Govt tips farmers to grow early maturing crops

Government has advised farmers in areas expected to receive reduced rainfall in the country to grow early maturing and drought-resistant crops. Zambia Meteorology Department Principal Meteorologist Rodgers Manjomba says farmers should select crop varieties according to the…

Government has advised farmers in areas expected to receive reduced rainfall in the country to grow early maturing and drought-resistant crops.

Zambia Meteorology Department Principal Meteorologist Rodgers Manjomba says farmers should select crop varieties according to the expected rainfall patterns in their respective areas.

Mr Manjomba says farmers in the central parts of the country could consider growing medium-maturing crops, while those in the northern parts, where normal to above-normal rainfall is expected, have a wider choice of crop varieties.

He says farmers in areas with adequate rainfall can grow late-maturing crops because the rains are expected to sustain the crops through the growing season.

Mr Manjomba was speaking in an interview with the media in Lusaka today.

He revealed that the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, working with the Ministry of Agriculture, has trained 100 Agricultural Camp Extension Officers to help farmers interpret weather information, package and disseminate meteorological information directly to farmers and also help them to adopt appropriate best farming practices.

Mr Manjomba said the initiative is aimed at moving beyond simply providing weather forecasts to explaining the likely impact of weather conditions on crops.

He said the two ministries are working with experts to produce agro-meteorological bulletins which combine weather forecasts with agricultural advice to help farmers make informed decisions.

He said the initiative will help farmers prepare for climate-related shocks and make informed decisions instead of relying solely on rain-fed agriculture.

Mr Majomba further disclosed that more than 70 percent of Zambia’s farming community depends on rain-fed agriculture, making farmers particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Mr Manjomba stressed that providing farmers with timely and appropriate climate information will help them better prepare for changing weather patterns and improve their resilience resulting from climate change and the forthcoming El Nino catastrophe.