Mkushi farmers demand revival of plant clinics
Small scale farmers in Mkushi district have appealed to government to consider re-activating the plant clinic intervention policy that was started four years ago.
Daniel Kati of Chibefwe agriculture camp said there was need to boost the plant clinic policy.
Mr. Kati observed that the intervention only operated for few months after it was introduced.
He revealed that the plant clinic intervention policy was widely welcomed by small scale farmers as it enabled the agriculture technical staff to identify and address the problem that affects crops by conducting on the spot diagnosis.
He said the plant clinic strategy is still needed by small scale farmers because they have in recent times been noticing various plant diseases that require expert knowledge to mitigate.
Another farmer, Veston Lukona of Chilomo area, observed that there is need to consider resuscitating the Farmers Training Centre (FTC) in order to accord the small scale farmers a platform for plant clinics.
Mr. Lukona stressed the need to fund the FTC so that it can conduct training to both cooperative based and individual farmers.
And Mkushi District Agriculture Coordinating Officer (DACO), Reuben Kabiti, said the plant clinics policy is technically still in place.
Mr. Kabiti however explained that the operations of the plant clinics policy have been hampered by lack of operational funding for activities.
ZANIS
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