©FAO/Zambia

10th February 2016 - Kapiri Mposhi: The newly appointed European Union (EU) Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, Alessandro Mariani visited the bloc’s funded Conservation Agriculture Scaling Up (CASU) Project Lead Farmers (LFs) in Makafu Camp of Kapiri Mposhi District as part of his familiarization tour.

The tour consisted of visiting senior government officials and various project stakeholders; Lead Farmers, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) CASU core team and Agro dealers in the district.

The EU Ambassador emphasized the importance of taking farming as a business and EU support to the farmers work. “…my congratulations and confirmation of support by the EU to your good job”, Mariani said.

Mariani further stated that possibilities put at the LF’s disposal together with their hard work offered opportunities to increase production, work satisfaction, access to education and access to proper health services.

Daniel Chibo, Director for Mukango Agricultural Equipment Ltd, an agro dealer involved in the redeeming of inputs by LFs under the project, highlighted the importance of engaging the private sector in the district. “We have a 25 percent increment in sales from agricultural inputs since engagement under the CASU project” indicated Chibo.

Implemented in 31 districts of Zambia, the CASU project uses farmer to farmer linkages to cascade Conservation Agriculture (CA) knowledge. In addition to promoting the three principles of CA, that is; soil cover, minimum tillage and crop rotation, the CASU project encourages farmers in the use of agroforestry species and provides linkages to output markets.

Speaking during the field visit, the host Lead Farmer, Mr. Royd Mwape expressed gratitude to the projects support “This year, our district has been affected by poor rains but with CA techniques taught to us by the CASU project, I am assured of a good harvest” he said.

FAO Representative, George Okech encouraged farmers to embrace CA in the face of climate change and thanked the EU for continued support.

Zambia like any other country in Southern Africa has been hit by El Niño. Amidst the effects of poor rainfall, CA farmers like Royd have given testimony that Conservation Agriculture unlike Conventional agriculture has given them good crop stand and are assured of good harvest.

During the current agriculture season, 92 percent of LFs from the 19,000 registered on the CASU project data base have managed to redeem agricultural inputs through the e-voucher system representing improvement from 75 percent realized last year. The inputs are a resource to LFs for demonstration of CA principles in their fields to FFs.

Related Links:

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/zambia/index_en.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_agriculture

https://www.flickr.com/photos/faooftheun/sets/72157650344384047/

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/zambia/press_corner/all_news/news/2014/20140117_en.htm

 Photos:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/faooftheun/

Contact:

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