Sat, 26 Aug 2017 10:35:14 +0000
By Jackson Mapapayi
Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi has trained 28,000 farmers in conservation farming method in North Western Province and currently supports 2,500 others with farming inputs such as seed and fertiliser.
Apart from that, the mining company is running extension services to ensure that farmers comply with strict conservation farming ethics.
Public relations manager Godfrey Msiska said the mining company was spending about US$1.4 million every year on farming inputs, training of farmers, purchase and maintenance of motor bikes for field officers and lead farmers who provide extension services and other related services.
“Our conservation farming programme through which we support farmers with inputs and extension services is a sure way of not only increasing the farmer’s yields of the staple food, maize and other crops but also a proved method of sustaining the environment by avoiding unnecessary tillage and land degradation,” Mr Msiska said.
He said the mining company was mindful of the need for diversification as a way of sustaining the economy.
“This is the very reason why we are investing heavily in agriculture and creating alternative income generating activities for the communities around the mine and the whole province at large,” he said.
And Betterson Mulaliki, a beneficiary of the programme testified that the conservation farming method had improved his yield unlike the traditional farming method he used in the past.
He said since the adoption of the conservation farming method, he was now able to harvest 40 bags of 50- kilogramme bags of maize from one lima.
