Farmers told to beat climate change through manure making

By Victoria Yande

Mzimba Youth Organization has encouraged farmers in the district to embrace manure making amid high cost of chemical fertilizer to beat the adverse effects of climate change such as dry spells.

Programs Officer for the Organization Mphatso Gondwe said this on the sidelines of training with 40 farmers on how to make manure as a way to sustain soil fertility amid dry spells due to climate change.

Gondwe said most of the farmers are struggling and cannot afford to buy chemical fertilizer hence the need to adopt manure making.

Gondwe said the training is an early bird catch so the farmers have enough time to prepare their manure before rainy season starts.

“We understand that currently chemical fertilizers are very expensive so as Mzimba Youth Organization we thought to train 40 farmers from Gwaba Nkhana village Traditional Authority M’mbelwa in the district in climate smart agriculture practices where by the farmers learn how how to make manure to retain soil fertility and moisture in their fields.

"These practices ensure that their crops survive in times of dry spells because manure retains moisture for a considerable period" said Gondwe.

One of the beneficiaries, from Gwaba Nkhana village, Fella Mhone applauded the organization initiative saying it will help to improve food security among the ultra-poor people in the district and enhance their crop yields.

The organization encouraged the farmers to among others adopt Femagavi Fertilizer which is made from ashes, manure, maize grain and a little bit of chemical fertilizer.