Published by the government of Zimbabwe
13 November 2009
Harare — Zimbabwe is processing machinery for conservation agriculture suitable for the local environment, acting head of the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Engineer Clopas Rukuni has said.
The country does not have locally manufactured agriculture implements suitable for conservation agriculture, a challenge that is affecting adoption of the new farming method being pushed by some donors.
Speaking at a workshop last week on conservation agriculture, Eng Rukuni said mechanisation was critical in conservation agriculture as it reduced work, improved timeliness of operations and productivity.
Other countries such as Brazil use machinery for their conservation agriculture.
Farmers can use jab planters, ripper tines and direct seeders, but these are not yet locally available as research is still going on to ensure the final product is user friendly.
The key players in the manufacturing of conservation agriculture machinery are Zimplow, Hasstt Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, Agventure and other agricultural implements manufacturers.
"There are discussions to establish machinery for this farming system. There are important operations that require implements for example lime application.
"Research and design can be expensive for manufacturers and we also need to look at performance tests, efficiency and durability of implements to protect the farmers," he said.
"We want to develop our own implements to produce an affordable zero tillage animal drawn planter. We also want to produce implements according to Zimbabwe specifications and standards of a direct seeder or zero tillage planter.
"The key design features of the implements are low draft, good seed conduct and user friendly among other factors," said Eng Rukuni.
Conservation agriculture is a crop management system based on three principles, minimum soil movement, soil surface cover with crop residues and living plants and crop rotations to avoid pest and diseases build up.
This has become popular with most communal farmers who are beneficiaries of some of the non-governmental organisations that are promoting the new farming method.
The farmers who adopt conservation agriculture are being given input packages comprising seed and fertilizers.
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