|
|
|
|
Hello ,
Importance of exchange visits
Since the start of Petauke SMART training Centre, farmers who got a partly sponsored pump also got agriculture training to improve their vegetable production. For some farmers it was a long time ago. A few were not practicing all the full skills they learned, as a result; their vegetable yields were less. That is why "Skat Foundation" and "Wilde Ganzen" allowed Jacana to arrange a field visit among the farmers.
The goal of the exchange visit was to observe and learn from colleague farmers, understand the challenges and successes experienced by farmers in a different region, foster a spirit of cooperation and networking among farmers, gather ideas for improving productivity and sustainability in their own field. The exchange visit took place from 23 July till 26 July 2024 and involved farmers from Kalindawalo and Mumbi visiting their counterparts in Chilimanyama.
|
|
|
Farmers visiting each others fields
|
Farmers shared techniques and practices they can implement on their own fields. This transfer of knowledge is crucial for improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Farmers shared challenges and solutions and it helped the farmers enormously. The exchange visit also opens opportunities for future collaboration and support.
|
Good practice examples
Use of organic fertilizer
Farmers noticed the importance of using organic fertilizer that they learned to make during the training.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Ziyenela Tembo a farmer from Chilima village explains the importance of using organic fertilizer in the field and how it has benefited him especially this time of drought.
|
|
|
|
Mulching
Farmers show how they mulch their vegetables and explain why it is so important in this dry season. The plants need less water and the mulch is improving the soil.
|
|
|
|
|
Farmer Mr. John D Phiri, from Mumbi chiefdom, explains to his fellow farmers the importance of mulching the crops and the benefit he has seen.
|
|
|
|
Crop diversification and intercropping
Only depending on one crop is a risk. The farmers explain to each other that it is better to grow more crops so that you spread the risk when one crop fails. Also intercropping different vegetables, this helps to improve the soil.
|
Moving garden
When a farmer does not have much land to grow vegetables, the solution of Charity Phiri can be a solution. She is growing vegetables in sacks and uses the water efficiently.
|
|
|
|
|
Charity Phiri at her “moving garden.
|
|
|
|
Testimonials from participating farmers.
Aliness Tembo
“The visit opened my eyes to new ways of managing my small field. Sharing our experiences and learning from each other has been very valuable, I’m excited to try some of the techniques I saw in action, it has also encouraged me to experiment with new crops that I hadn’t considered before.”
|
Edward Mwanza
“I was particularly impressed by the use of organic fertilizers, because I have noticed healthier plants. The visit highlighted the importance of water management, seeing the efficient way of farming in Chilima has inspired me to invest in such a farming system.”
|
Ruth Banda
“The exchange program was a great opportunity to see different farming landscapes and understand how to adapt some of those methods to our environment. The exchange visit was an eye-opener, learning about crop diversification from our visitors has given me new ideas on how to maximize my land use.”
|
Conclusion
The exchange visit was a resounding success, achieving its objectives of knowledge sharing, networking and exposure to innovative farming practices. The farmers returned home with new ideas and techniques that will benefit them a lot in their day to day field operations.
|
|
|
|
Follow us also on these social media sites:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
