Poor weed management is perhaps the single most important factor leading to greatly reduced yields from the fields of the small-scale farmer. Here’s how to manage weeds in your fields. Following conventional tillage practices can lead to on-going depletion of your soil’s fertility, and this, along with poor plant populations,…
Eliminating herbicide resistance is extremely difficult once it has gained a foothold on your farm, but with the correct management practices it is possible to eradicate the problem in a few years. “The best solution is to avoid getting it in the first place,” says Hestia Nienaber from South Africa’s…
A number of factors should be taken into account when you draw up a fodder production plan that includes pastures. The costs of establishing a pasture are high, so attention to detail, particularly when establishing perennial pasture, will more than compensate for the effort involved. The species and variety of…
Question: Why is zinc important for crops? Zinc is an essential mineral to all living organisms (animals and plants) and is a co-factor in all enzyme-based reactions. It is required only in small but critical concentrations to allow key plant physiological pathways to function normally. Crops that can be adversely…
Growing lucerne is a cost-effective way of producing feed and grazing. The crop can survive the harshest drought conditions and, unlike other crops, can be cut throughout the growing season. Here is how you can grow a productive lucerne crop, which is mostly planted in May and June. Lucerne has…
Herbicide-resistant weeds are a major concern for crop producers. Farmers fear that, in an extreme case of resistance, they might lose the chemical tools that had previously been effective. Weed species that can survive and reproduce following exposure to a dose of herbicide that is usually lethal to its wild…
The British Department for International Development (DFID) says it will provide £90 million to support research that will lead to the creation of new “super-crops” to address the problems of food security and nutrition in Africa. DFID is the international development aid agency of the British government. In a statement…
The nutritious advantage of indigenous vegetables and crops can be enjoyed outside of harvesting season due to several preservation methods. Indigenous vegetables and crops are a healthy alternative or addition to conventional crops, and can be cultivated or even be found in the wild for free. By preserving them for…
The creation of soil takes millions of years and to create only 1 cm of fertile topsoil takes 100 to 400 years. Erosion due to the forces of wind and water can wipe that soil away within the wink of an eye. Good farming practices applied by farmers can reduce…
The Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI) has established a €6.3 million state-of-the-art risk information service centre to strengthen the resilience of Zambian smallholder farmers to pests and crop diseases such as fall armyworm. According to CABI, the centre was built with the support of International Partnerships from the United…
Dr Edson Ncube: Agricultural Research Council - Grain Crops, Potchefstroom Mycotoxins are by-products of fungal growth that can survive various forms of heat treatment and they are harmful to both humans and animals. Fungal species such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium infect grain crops such as maize, groundnut and sorghum…
Zambian Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya said K1.7 billion will be released next week for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which this year runs on a full electronic voucher (e-voucher) system. “By the end of November, government will release the money to pay farmers under the e-voucher system,” Siliya…
Seasonal outlooks show that South African farmers can expect a midsummer dry spell, despite an expected weak La Niña phenomenon. Southern Africa can still expect a weak La Niña phenomenon this summer. This usually means that most of the summer rainfall regions can expect above average rainfall, says prof. Willem Landman…
Solanaceous crops, like African eggplant, need to be rotated and cannot return to the same field (or the same garden patch) until 2 or 3 seasons have passed. Factor this into your medium-term plan. LAND PREPARATION Plough, disc and ridge if you prefer to follow conventional cultivation practices. A more…
The Malawian government has bowed to pressure to recognise the importance of locally grown crop seed alongside commercially produced varieties. It is still unclear what impact the development will have on the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (COMESA) harmonisation of national seed laws. Non-governmental organisations fiercely lobbied to…
Many farmers are worried after rain lashed parts of Zambia, but the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) has advised farmers not to rush into planting. ZMD said the rain experienced in parts of the country over the weekend and early this week will subside over the next few days. “The rains…
Efforts to contain red locusts in southern Malawi are being hampered by local communities who regard the migratory pests as a delicacy. Local media, however, reports warnings by the Ministry of Agriculture to refrain from eating the insects, went largely unheeded in the Mulanje district. “The red locust, dzombe as…
The Zambian National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) has hailed the 2018 national budget as progressive in enhancing agricultural productivity. “The budget addresses some of the concerns of the farming community through various measures proposed to increase production and diversification,” said Jervis Zimba, ZNFU President. Last Friday, government announced a K71.6 billion…
As temperatures increase, fall armyworm has also been spotted in maize fields in the northern parts of Namibia, near Ruacana. According to Albertus Viljoen, manager of the government farm Etunda, the worms already occur in large numbers on young maize on the farm. The worm was first spotted on the…
The Malawi Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has warned that a red locust swarm was seen in the Mulanje district. In a statement, Erica Maganga, secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, said the ministry is doing everything possible to control the situation. “The ministry has organised with…
New Holland has just revealed its methane powered concept tractor, taking a step to provide a self-sufficient fuel and lower carbon emission future for farmers. In practice, this means farmers with all the necessary resources won’t have to rely on fossil fuels to power their machinery, but can be energy…
Government will spend K2million to implement proactive measures to fight fall armyworm in the next farming season, says Zambian Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya. Experts predict the fall armyworm outbreak that first emerged in southern Africa during the last farming season, will continue to wreak havoc in the new season. “This…
Zambian farmers are holding back their soya bean as they seek fair prices for their crop. At the same time the Small-scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) has called on government to formulate policy to insulate local producers against price volatility caused by dumping. Scores of farmers interviewed by Africanfarming.com said…
Cotton ginneries in Zambia are slowing down as the country’s annual cotton production falls short of the 400 000 ton annual ginning capacity. Cotton Board of Zambia (CBZ) Executive Director Dafulin Kaonga urged more farmers to venture into the production of the crop, saying worldwide demand is increasing. “There is…
