CROP diversification has been one of the most topical issues that most agricultural experts have been championing to raise the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Every farmer can embark on this to achieve greater economic goals through increased yields and thereby contribute to the sector.
However, most farmers have failed to meet their economic objectives because they have tended to cling to the growing of the same types of crops instead of embracing diversification.
Diversification has the potential to provide several benefits such as the breaking of pest cycles, plant diseases and insects, as well as weed infestation.
Agriculture being one of the sectors that are highly affected by climate change it is cardinal that small-scale farmers in the country begin to embrace crop diversification throughout the farming stages.
Seasonal pattern of dynamics have shown an increase in temperature, increase in droughts, altered events of precipitation and intensity as some of the extreme weather events evident in Zambia today.
Low crop yields, increased agriculture risks, diminishing soil fertility and environmental degradation are the other main hurdles which have continued to threaten societal goals of improving food, income and nutrition security especially among small scale farmers.
This, therefore, calls for a significant transformation in small scale farmers’ mindset, especially in worst affected regions.
It is also imperative to note that in the promotion of diversification there is need for farmers to consider the growing of tuber crops such as yams and sweet potatoes.
According to Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 2008 estimates, the average maize national yields in Sub-Saharan Africa was only about 1.4 tonnes per hectare as compared to the world average of 5.1 tonnes.
This productivity is too low and does not result in positive returns for maize farmers.
In terms of the pricing, in the last marketing season a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of maize was fetching K60.
In comparison the current minimum price for yams on Zambian market is K15 per kg.
Yams are an important food crop although some people regard it as merely a source of carbohydrate; some species are nearly as rich in protein as rice and maize.
Yams cultivation seems to be on the rise in Zambia, especially in some parts of Central Province, though still at a low rate.
Christopher Kapini, 55, a small scale farmer of Kakulu area in Kapiri-Mposhi District in Central Province is among those who have started championing the cultivation of yams in Zambia.
In an interview recently Mr Kapini says yams cultivation if well enhanced can provide a chance for many small scale farmers to realise higher income and profit levels.
He narrates that his decision to start yam growing was after discovery of the less requirements of the growing of the crop.
This is as compared to other crops like maize and the high yields the tuber gives.
‘Yam is less expensive to grow, all one needs are tubers and the making of mounds.  Fertiliser is not required, only composite manure is needed to have a healthy plant.
‘Yams have an advantage over other crops in that it has medicinal components and for those with diabetes it is the best food for them,’ Mr Kapini explains.
He adds that the high productivity for the tuber and the relatively high price it attracts make it a favourable cash crop.
“You can compare the prices of maize and yam, for yam is at K15 per Kg with an interpretation of K750 per 50 kg bag of yam. On each [small] mound one is expected to yield about 20 to 30 kgs of yam tubers,” he says.
Mr Kapini urges small scale farmers across the country to reduce overdependence on maize cultivation and instead start growing profitable indigenous crops like millet, cassava, sorghum and yams.
This will help reduce poverty levels and create employment.
He says yams are an important source of income and an attractive crop for the smallholder farmers with limited resources.
Mr Kapini says yams have other nutritional values such as vitamin C, dietary fibre, Vitamin B6 potassium and manganese.
It is relatively low in saturated fats and sodium.
“When you eat yams, you will have more sustainable energy and it promotes long health as it has an anti-ageing power,’’ he says.
Mr Kapini says yams have other nutritional values which give a good balance in the human body and protect against heart diseases and diabetes.
He says that his interest in growing yams had inspired him to join Monkey Orange Crafts Yam Project, an organisation based in Lusaka.
“The organisation sensitises people through organic yam growing and value addition among others,” he says.
Mr Kapini’s sentiments on yams were echoed by National Yam coordinator Michael Mwandila.
Mr Mwandila says farmers should respond to government’s call for them to embrace crop diversification if they are to remain successful in the agricultural sector.
Mr Mwandila, who is also the founder of the Monkey Orange Crafts Organisation, observed that yams have huge potential to contribute to the country’s agricultural sector as it is easy to grow.
“Most Zambian small scale farmers are poor due to the tendency of planting unsuitable crops. We are growing wrong crops when we have simple and high value crops like yams, which can earn the farmers a good income,’’ he says.
Mr Mwandila says Zambia is a single diet and mono-crop country which has been depending on maize as a staple food for many years.
He advises farmers in Zambia to start cultivating yams, a crop which can be handled by small scale farmers as it fits well and does not need fertiliser provided the soil is fertile enough.
“From one single plant of yam a farmer can harvest about 25 kilograms that is the reason Monkey Orange Crafts Yam Project has invested in training farmers with interest in the growing of the crop,” he says.
He says yam can be stored up to six months without refrigeration, which makes it a valuable resource from the early period of scarcity at the beginning of the season.
Mr Mwandila observes that yam tubers weigh from about 2.5kg to five kilogramme each.
“Our organisation working on its own without any support from well-wishers in 2017 through self-sponsored activities had trained 173 farmers and registered 405 farmers from seven provinces, namely Copperbelt, Lusaka, Central, Eastern, Northern, Luapula and North Western,” he says.
Mr Mwandila says sensitisation and further research on yams is required as the crop itself is economically viable.
He also calls on youths and women across Africa to develop keen interest in the cultivation of yams if they are to lead fruitful lives.
“Yams currently on Zambian market are imported from West Africa, India and Tanzania yet we have what it takes to grow them locally,” he said.
If yam is promoted, supported and commercialised in Zambia there will be a lot of benefits for local farmers and the country because the crop has capacity to contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.—ZANIS.