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Zambia: What is the Best Farming System?
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
3 May 2008
Posted to the web 5 May 2008
Ndola
IN ecological systems, there are no simple answers because easy solutions are always unstable ones, but there is a better agricultural system that farmers should employ.
Such systems evolve as our knowledge base increases and as technology develops.
Attitudes also change and farmers are now more environmentally conscious than ever before, in line with community expectations.
But, evolving farming systems must be intensively monitored to measure performance and to make adjustments where undesirable trends are identified.
As a result, promoting environmental friendly farming technologies is a welcome idea as it will help eradicate the dependence that farmers have on methods that harm the environment.
Farmers should, therefore, try technologies such as organic production because it is one way to save and regenerate soils, thereby promoting environmental friendly crops.
With soaring food prices world over, the best thing farmers can do is save the source of life. It is particularly important for small-scale farmers to depend on subsistence agriculture to ensure that key ecosystem functions are maintained.
Biodiversity and ecosystem services are the living basis for humanity's well-being. Everyone in the world depends on nature and ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a healthy life.
Biodiversity benefits people through more than just its contribution to immediate material welfare and livelihoods, but also contributes to long-term security and resilience. Non-degraded ecosystems have shown to be more robust and protecting against natural disasters such as droughts and floods.
Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly than any comparable period of time in human history. This has been done with a view to meeting rapidly growing demand for food, fresh water, timber and fuel.
To reduce poverty, the ecosystem functions which provide the needed services have to be maintained through more targeted biodiversity conservation.
Dr Kenneth Nkowani, director at the department of Environment and Natural Resources says "if we are to conserve biodiversity, it is important to relate it to the livelihood of the people of Zambia. At global level there are targets set for the year 2010."
Dr Nkowani explains that the Zambian Government has translated the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into Tonga and Lozi in Southern and Western provinces so that people understand the issue at hand.
Biodiversity loss has immensely contributed to the below normal rainfall experienced in the two provinces.
"Over-grazing and bad farming methods that some farmers' use has exacerbated the loss," he reveals. He also says agro-ecological zones will shift due to climate change and issues of species, pests and plants may change if no proactive measures are taken.
"It is every Zambian's responsibility to look after the resource if our livelihood is to be sustained, emphasises Dr Nkowani, adding that food production is directly related to biodiversity conservation.
He explains that biodiversity is important for today and generations to come and impact heavily on agriculture because it has a big link with food production, forestry, fisheries and mining.
Dr Nkowani also stresses the need for people to work hand in hand with the Government in order to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target, failure to which biodiversity loss will increase to the detriment of the nation.
He adds that it is also important for the Zambian Government to take action before 2035 and attach three per cent of the GDP towards activities which can safeguard ecosystem and biodiversity.
In a separate interview, Ignatius Makumba, acting chief of Natural Resources Management at the same department, says Zambia has done quite a lot in achieving the 2010 biodiversity target despite the numerous challenges.
"We are on track but you should realise that there are a lot of resources required in making sure that we achieve this target. As a country, we tried to put up certain activities in place which are contributing towards the achievement of the biodiversity target 2010," says Makumba.
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He further adds that his department has simplified the United Nations Convention on biodiversity, adding that they have also been implementing a project on the localisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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