Irrigation Farming is the Way to Go

By Linda Mupemo

 It is common practice for farmers in Zambia to start tilling their crop fields towards the end of summer (October) in preparation for the planting season.  2021 was not an exception, by the first week of November, most farmers had prepared their fields.

Zambia experiences the  rainy season from November to April the following year. However, the disruption in the rainfall pattern for the 2021/2022 farming season sent shockwaves into the agriculture sector. By mid-December, most parts of the country were receiving below average rainfall. Farmers who planted their seeds after the first rains had dry, stunted crops towards the end of the year.

Suffice to say a good number of farmers in the rural parts of the country solely depend on agriculture to sustain themselves. Therefore, any disturbance in their agricultural activities, natural or man-made, leads to the destabilisation of their livelihoods.

Justine Musangu, a beneficiary of the Farmer Input Support Programme  (FISP) in Milenge district said he made losses as the maize seeds he planted barely sprouted.

Mr. Musangu added that he had to buy more seeds so as to re-plant. 

He said he only managed to re-plant crops for home consumption as opposed to commercial purposes.

“I have incurred losses as all my crops initially dried up. I redeemed the seeds under FISP and I was forced to spend more money on buying seeds for re-planting,” he lamented. 

Dry Spell Hits Zambia - Picture by Zambia Daily Mail

Another Farmer David Kanjuza stated that he is anticipating low yields due to the dry spell which interfered with the growth of his crops.   

"I planted late maturing maize seeds and they wilted. I do not know how I will feed my family or pay my children's school fees," he said.   

The disruption in the rainfall pattern is one of the many adverse effects of climate change society is grappling with. Experts have not stated when the situation will normalise, that is if it will at all. What if the next rainy season delays? What if the country continues to receive inadequate rains?

It is time farmers and authorities embraced irrigation  farming. The current climatic conditions call for urgent solutions to enable farmers continue carrying out farming activities in the transformed environment. Not to mention Zambia is endowed with abundant water resources which can be exploited for such activities.

Luapula River - Picture by Linda Mupemo

 The onus is on government to invest heavily in irrigation farming to ensure farming activities go on with or without rains. That is the only way the nation will become food secure. 

The onus is on government to invest heavily in irrigation farming to ensure farming activities go on with or without rains. That is the only way the nation will become food secure.

Milenge District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Tom Mwansabamba revealed that the area has recorded a 25 percent reduction in the expected crop yield. 

Mr. Mwansamba said the 35, 000 farmers in the district were negatively impacted by the dry spell which was experienced from late 2021 to early 2022. 

"Our farmers planted 2700 hectors of maize and we expected a yield of 216, 000 kilograms. However, due to the erratic rainfall received, the expected crop yield has decreased to 162, 000 kilograms," he stated. 

Mr. Mwansabamba added that the expected yield for ground nuts has reduced by 2000 kilograms, soya beans reduced by over 1800 kilograms while that of sorghum has dropped by 750 kilograms.   

The DACO has since called for intensified investment in irrigation farming to prevent crop failure in the wake of unreliable rainfall patterns. . 

 

A crop field being watered using irrigation equipment- Picture by Google Images

Mr. Mwansabamba disclosed that  farmers in the area are engaging in irrigation farming under the Expanded Community Based Small Holder (ECOBS) irrigation although it is on a small scale. 

"Under the ECOBS irrigation scheme, a number of farmers are doing farming activities using weirs. However, this is non-mechanised irrigation. There is need for proper equipment to enable farmers grow crops on a large scale," he said. 

The increment in the Constituency Development Fund  (CDF) from K 1.6 million to K25.7 million has provided alternative means of funding such ventures for a start. 

Milenge Town Council Chairperson Clement Mwila says the local authority is ready to help small scale farmers in the area with the procurement of irrigation equipment using CDF. 

Mr. Mwila has since urged farmers in the area to form cooperatives so that they can apply for funding.

"Investing in irrigation equipment is one way we can help small scale farmers in our district. We are encouraging farmers to apply for CDF following the stipulated guidelines," he said. 

He added that there is need for government to formulate policies which stimulate the provision of irrigation equipment to farmers at national level. 

 

Mr. Mwila noted that irrigation farming has potential to promote agricultural productivity and food security in the country.

As society traverses the harsh effects of climate change, there is need to adopt survival strategies especially in the agriculture sector so as to save humanity. 

 As society traverses the harsh effects of climate change, there is need to adopt survival strategies especially in the agriculture sector so as to save humanity.  If the erratic rainfall experienced the past few weeks is anything to go by, irrigation farming is the way to go. The writing is on the wall, society can no longer exclusively depend on rain-fed agriculture.