‘STOP UNSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES’

UNSUSTAINABLE agricultural practices such as the slash and burn system should be done away with because it triggers climate change,agriculture expert Oliver Bulaya has said.

Dr. Bulaya noted with sadness the rampant deforestation going on in our country which was responsible for forest degradation.

He said deforestation as a result of unsustainable agricultural practiceswas inducing climate change and loss of the biodiversity which were essential for human life as well as wild animals’ survival.

Speaking to The Scoop, Dr. Bulaya observed that there were a number of activities that were going on based on human activities’ failure to harness the forests.

“Farmers must think twice before clearing new land by ensuring they take care of the soil health of existing fields to avoid migrating from one field to another due to depletion of fertility.  Conservation agriculture provides techniques on how best farmers can preserve the soil and increase production and productivity.

“Cases of effects of climate change have been severe this year. This is one of the hottest years in history. And this pattern ignites health challenges for human beings and the wild animals. It is our responsibility to ensure we engage in activities of planting trees and the protection of our environment,” he said.

Dr. Bulaya added that the rainy season was an opportunity for schools, organizations and communities to participate in afforestation.

“If we do nothing now, we are allowing the escalation of climate change. Therefore, everyone should take responsibility in planting trees and fruit trees. Our church leaders and traditional leaders should know it is time to escalate this in our communities of jurisdiction,” he said.

And Rufunsa District agriculture officer Clementina Sinkala said the government, through Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) and Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT)was promoting indigenous crops because they were climate resilient.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is training environmental and social safeguard committees in various camps in Rufunsa District to operate as development watchdogs on environmental protection and development in general,” she said.

Ms. Sinkala said the government would continue doing everything possible to ensure that the various ecosystems in the country are restored.

“Government is going to clamp down on anybody involved in illegal activities such as deforestation and charcoal burning which is a worrying trend being noticed currently.

Deforestation threatens our water security because most commercial farming in the country is largely dependent on the rivers, lakes and dams we have. If not controlled, the tourism potential will be destroyed, so there is a need to ensure that everything possible is done in order to maintain the trees,” she said.