Itezhi-tezhi Farmers Resort to Full Utilization of the Splendid Kafue River for Mixed Winter Cropping.

By Watson Zulu

Batunga Manonga Association Farmer group in Itezhi-tezhi District in Babizhi Agricultural Camp under Lubanda Agricultural Block has gone into full use of the waters of the splendid and crystal-clear Kafue River in mixed winter cropping.

After being interviewed by the National Agricultural information Staff (NAIS), Mr Previous Shandomo, who is the association chairperson, said that his members have realized that the arable land lying along the Kafue River cannot remain unutilized due to the full potential which the Kafue River has to supply the farming community with water even after the rainy season when farmers ought to resort to winter cropping.

Mr Shandomo said that his stand has always been firm in encouraging his members to engage in winter cropping by taking advantage of the available perennial waters of the river. During the rainy season, the river gets flooded and its waters burst out on the surrounding valley, carrying with them much alluvial soil in the process. This soil when utilized not only gives the farmers little reason to fear any losses of their seed but also promises an abundant harvest.

On the irrigation methods used, Mr Shandomo said that his members have settled on two methods of irrigation which have proved to be the only possible ones within the confines of their resources. These include the use of the bucket or the cane and the water pump irrigation systems. He, however, said that the use of the bucket as a means of irrigation is a somewhat risky and dangerous method because the river is infested with crocodiles and hippos. It is quite distressing though to note that most of the farmers are forced to use the very system of irrigation which puts them at a stone’s throw away from the borders of their graves because very few of them have enough resources to purchase and install water pumps.

On the other hand, itezhi-tezhi District crop Husbandry officer in the Ministry of Agriculture –John Banda—said that the aim of his department was to facilitate and support a viable and competitive agricultural sector that secures food at both household and national level and contributes to the Gross Domestic Product. He further stated that he had endeavoured to encourage farmers to adopt Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices including the use of integrated Pest Management System (IPM) with the purpose of creating resilience in farmers in terms of pest control which can help to mitigate the effects of climate change in winter cropping. This, he said, was done through the promotion of irrigation and winter maize production using the available waters of the Kafue River.

As a result of these resilient campaigns, farmers along the Kafue Rivers have put up gardens and harness water through water pumps while others use material canes. However, their cry is a lack of support to boost their productivity – NAIS.

The author of this article works for the Zambia Agriculture Information Service as District Agricultural Information Officer in Itezhi-Tezhi -ZAMBIA