By JOSEPH BANDA
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM)-owned Kalumbila Mine through the Trident Project in North-Western Province has advised farmers to desist from depending on fertiliser for them to maximise production.
Trident Project conservation farming coordinator Stuart Brent said although his project had introduced conservation farming to the farmers through the mines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSRR), some farmers were resistant to change.
Mr Brent said conservation farming was more reliable because it ensured food security and proper land management while maintaining soil fertility for better yields.
He said this during an information sharing meeting between the Trident Project and media personnel in Kalumbila District.
“Conservation farming makes agriculture cheaper because it does not require urea, and farmers are able to produce 21 bags of maize per lima while using traditional methods they only harvest six bags,” Mr Brent said.
He said from the time his project started with 598 farmers in 2012, the number had grown to 2,954 farmers who were being assisted with conservation farming, bee-keeping, poultry rearing, vegetable growing and green charcoal production, among other ventures.
Mr Brent, however, said that some farmers fell out of the programme because of a lack of discipline as a result of failure to follow principles.
Wildlife conservation coordinator Dorian Tilbury said his project was assisting in protecting wildlife in the West Lunga National Park and had so far recruited 41 village scouts, provided uniforms, salaries and increased patrols in the game management area.
He said the Kalumbila Mine had also reserved 9,000 hectares of land for wildlife and it currently hosts 12 species while a total of US$ 1.5 million would be spent on various projects in conjunction with the Government.
From the health project Marcus Chisanga said the mine helped deliver drugs from Solwezi to various health facilities in Kalumbila District.
She said that 4,053 people had been screened for HIV/AIDS while 7,200 male condoms had been distributed.
