By CASSEY KAYULA –
THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is training over 336,000 farmers in conservation farming techniques across Zambia.
FAO National Technical Coordinator Misael Kokwe said the program was aimed at strengthening integrated adaptation planning and implementation of farmers.
He said this at the 91st Agriculture and Commercial show (ACS) in Lusaka.
“Our Target is 21,000 lead farmers and 315,000 follower farmers and our total is 336,000 across all provinces except Northern Province, “Mr Kokwe said.
He said the organiation’s objective was capacity building of field extension officers and farmers in planning and implementing climate resilient farming options (good practices).
“Enabling farmers to make more climate smart choices requires a better understanding of which agricultural practices are most promising within specific agro-ecological regions, policy and institutional framework,” he said.
Mr Kokwe further added that the organization would set up a national climate information network for analysis, modelling, monitoring climate information to improve the precision of climate projections and advisory services to farmers
“This will improve statistical databases linking of household agricultural practices linked to weather data, “he said.
He said the three national scientists would be trained to access and utilise the databases.
“We are trying to teach farmers on how to produce more on less land and we are dealing with issues of inter crop, appropriate mechanism of the farm so that they can do the work in good time to avoid consequences of late planting and erratic rainfall,” Mr Kokwe said.
He said the FAO intended to scale up when technologies are developed.