Sustainable Organic Agriculture in Zambia
The Agricultural sector in Zambia generates between 18-20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides livelihood for more than 50 per cent of the population. Agriculture therefore of key importance to the development of the Zambian economy, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture will result in overall poverty reduction, increased food security and economic growth in the country. Despite the high agricultural potential in Zambia, the sector has not fully been exploited.
The Sustainable Organic Agriculture (SOA) Training and its associated activities benefited from the generous financial support from United Nations Development Accounts (UNDA). This training and its associated activities also contributed to the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns (10YFP).
To create awareness on sustainable organic agriculture (SOA) as a viable alternative farming system 1. Awareness creation on sustainable organic agriculture for Ministry of Agriculture staffs
2. Conduct sustainable organic agriculture training for Ministry of Agriculture provincial and district staffs
3. Awareness creation on sustainable organic agriculture through radio programmes, television documentary, and printed materials (e.g posters, manual on agroecology) A sensitization workshop on sustainable organic agriculture (SOA) for Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) staffs was conducted in Choma in Southern province. Twenty-four MOA staffs attended the sensitization workshop conducted by Kasisi Agricultural Training Center. During the training, there was an interesting interaction between the participants and facilitators on various issues in the area of sustainable agriculture.
Six, thirty minutes, programmes on SOA namely; Introduction to SOA, Converting to SOA, Land preparation and planting in SOA, Soil fertility management in SOA, soil and water conservation in SOA and pest and disease management in SOA were produced in collaboration with the National Agriculture Information Services (NAIS) and aired on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio 2 on a programme dubbed “Organic Corner”. Shortly after the six radio programmes on SOA had been aired, a live phone in a radio programme on SOA was held on Radio 2 of the ZNBC. One documentary outlining key aspects of SOA was produced and handed to the Ministry of Agriculture for onward sharing with extension staff. 100 soft copies (DVDs) of the documentary were made and given to the Ministry of Agriculture, Head Office for onward sharing with camp extension officers. The documentary sought to show the technologies and practices discussed in the six radio programmes.
This is already successfully completed
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Ministry of Agriculture Zambia, Kasisi Agricultural Training Center
Project start date
01/10/2016
Project end date
31/03/2017
