GOVT PROMOTES SMART AGRICULTURE AMONG FARMERS

GOVERNMENT is promoting smart agriculture to avoid reliance on chemical fertilizers instead of organic ones, Chirundu District Community Development Officer Moffat Ng’uni has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Ng’uni said the Government was promoting smart agriculture and irrigation to avoid the reliance of fertilizers among the farmers adding that 166 goats were given out to communities for people to restrain from deforestation.

“Aside from promoting smart agriculture practices and irrigation, the Government has intensified protection of existing forests such as mutulanganga bird sanctuary between Chirundu and Siavonga District. Furthermore, as part of the provision of alternative livelihoods to climate stressed communities in Chirundi, the Government has given out 10, 000 chickens to the villagers in the district,” he said.

He said that the Government was promoting irrigation development in musaya ward and currently running a bigger scheme in mushungu which has three tiers in Chirundu District.

“We have a number of projects the Government is running and promoting in the district to help communities engage in different activities to improve their livelihoods and avoid cutting down trees.  The department of forestry has established nursery tree seedlings to plant in different parts of Chirundu especially in the valley.

Our able Government established environmental and social safeguard committees to teach people on good environmental practices. Government has also intensified the keep Zambia clean campaign every Friday and the local authority has placed dust bins in all strategic areas to keep Chirundu clean while segregating solid waste in order to promote recycling,” he said.

Mr. Ng’uni expressed joy to note that the Government had put in place early warning systems such as two automated and eight manually operated rain gauges to guide farmers on the amount of rain received per year.

“The success of Zambia’s National Adaptation Planning (NAP) processes and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) implementation in the country hinges on the participation of several stakeholders including the civil society movement. This transformative initiative aims to empower Civil Society Organizations in Zambia to play a pivotal role in advocating for climate action and environmental sustainability. We need to build the capacity of CSOs in climate adaptation and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions,” he said.

He said with the engagement of the Government the communities of Chirundu will transform into successful farmers with good agriculture practices as well as reduced deforestation among others.