Farmers turn to organic alternatives

HILLARY MUNEDZI

Zimbabwe farmers are turning to organic fertilisers following an unprecedented rise in the cost of synthetic or chemical fertilisers.

Food giant, Nestlé Zimbabwe, said it is realising a 10% increase in yield for maize silage per hectare following its use of organic fertilisers.

Nestlé has also championed regenerative agriculture in Honde Valley, Manicaland Province for coffee farmers.

The farmers under the Nestlé AAA programme have benefited immensely through the use of organic fertiliser.

The company is now spreading the use of organic fertiliser.

“The application has been largely successful with the farmers seeing an average increase in yield of 10% in maize silage per hectare.

We currently advocate for the use of solid organic fertiliser (mainly from cattle and poultry) among our small-holder farmers. The use of liquid organic fertiliser has recently been introduced for our small-holder farmers and we are working closely with them to integrate its usage more frequently,” Yamurai Zhou, the Nestlé Corporate Communications officer said.

The Agriculture for Rural Development Authority business scheme manager, Bernard Bepe, said  organic fertilisers are encouraged to both commercial and small-scale farmers across all agriculture enterprises.“They reduce production cost, improve soil structure, texture, improve water holding capacity thus reducing Irrigation frequency thus subsequently reducing labour costs,” Bepe said.

He said commercial farmers with mixed farming are encouraged to use livestock manure and they are also encouraged to practice good agricultural practices such as conservation farming of which these farmers are encouraged to minimally disturb the soil, and crop rotation.

“For example after harvesting of wheat, we encourage farmers to zero tillage their lands but rather plant another crop directly. The wheat by-products will decompose overtime thus adding organic matter to the soil,” Bepe said.

Chief director, agricultural advisory and rural development services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri, told Business Times: “We are currently testing the use of organic fertilisers. They actually work and we have called on the private sector who are into organic fertilisers to bring in samples for testing and according to our calculations a farmer can expect to use US$4 per hectare for both basal and top dressing. They are quite affordable.”

He added: “So we will test the organic fertilisers for two years before we take it to Government for Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.”