More than 12 000 farmers in the drought prone Buhera South this year took up conservation farming, amid expectations of yielding better harvests.

More than half of the farmers said they took up the concept after seeing positive aspects of the programme on counterparts who took it up last season.Buhera South’s major characteristic is low and highly variable rainfall that makes it unsuitable for crop production under conventional farming methods that disturbs the soil.Most households in the constituency are into conservation farming and several have taken advantage of training workshops and field days by NGO Goal Zimbabwe to enhance their knowledge about concept.In separate interview during the tour of the pilot projects on last Thursday, farmers who used this method last year said they realised adequate yields while colleagues who resisted change had little to talk about in terms of yields.They have since increased the area planted this year, while their colleagues, who developed cold feet last year, have joined in after noticing the difference.Speaking at a field visit at Mr Peter Musendeki’s plot of Ward 32, under Chief Nyashanu’s area, Goal Zimbabwe crop production specialist Mr Tichaona Gadzikwa said farmers need to explore new farming ways to preserve crop moisture.The field visit was organized for the Provincial Administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa, journalists, provincial heads of agro-related Government departments and local farmers by the NGO. Mr Gadzikwa explained that conservation farming is any system or practice which aims to conserve soil and water by using surface cover or mulch to minimise runoff and erosion and improve the conditions for plant growth.

Source - http://www.manicapost.com/