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Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing issues of our time, with far-reaching consequences for global food security, environmental sustainability, and human wellbeing.
The agricultural sector, which provides livelihoods for millions worldwide, is particularly vulnerable to climate change’s impacts.
Rising temperatures, drought, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events disrupt agricultural productivity.
Zambia has been severely affected by climate change, whose impact has been felt by all, regardless of social status.
To mitigate these effects, Hivos Southern Africa and its partner, Keepers Zambia Foundation (KZF), are implementing climate-resilient agricultural practices to help rural farmers.
In Rufunsa district, a team from Hivos and Keepers Zambia met with farmers from Chamulimba ward, Lundu village, to conduct a conservation farming activity promoting the use of natural resources to create biochar manure and traditional stoves.
Conservation agriculture focuses on minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, and promoting crop rotation.
The team illustrated how to produce biochar manure made from maize cobs and stalks in the ground.
“Burning maize waste in the ground (cone-shaped hole) helps retain carbon dioxide and prevent smoke emissions, a major contributor to climate change,” the team explained.
“Crushed biochar manure sustains soil health and fertility.”
More than 40 farmers showed up, and they praised the process as a good climate-resilient practice.
The activity included a sensitization exercise discouraging charcoal production due to deforestation’s negative climate impact.
Instead, using maize cobs and traditional stoves for cooking was encouraged.
Read more: Climate change threatens Zambia’s food security, warns advocate
“When we burn trees for charcoal, we are worsening the effects of climate change so to prevent that, we need to adopt better practices such as creating Biocher manure from maize cobs and stalks.We’re thankful for this project, as it benefits us greatly,” said Serah Chipale, a famer. “We don’t need to buy chemicals, we can use environmental-friendly resources like maize cobs and stalks for our cooking and farming.”
Susan Makwelele added: “This training has equipped us with knowledge to be climate-smart and avoid being scammed by people who claim that they have climate change solutions for us, when infact not.”
And Chamulimba ward development committee chairperson said, “We need more sensitization and action on climate change and adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices, what you have done today will go a long way because we know what to do now.”
Village headman Cccrassious Similundu and senior headman Isaac Njobvu praised the initiative as an effective way of combatting climate change and its devastating effects.
Through these climate-resilient practices, farmers can reduce soil erosion, improve water retention and enhance biodiversity.
This approach promotes climate-resilient agriculture by increasing soil organic matter, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving crop yields.
KZF Programs officer Lisa Nyirongo explained that conventional agricultural practices contribute significantly to climate change, with intensive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation leading to soil degradation, erosion, and nutrient depletion.
“By creating this Biocher manure from maize cobs and stalks, and burinugg it in a cone shaped hole, we’re trappung the carbon dioxide ans reducing on smoke emissions, while helping with soil fertility,” she said.
Climate change poses an existential threat to global food security and environmental sustainability.
Moving to sustainable agriculture practices like conservation agriculture can Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote ecosystem resilience and ensure a food-secure future.
Collective action is important, supporting farmers, policymakers, and consumers in pursuing a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural system, as seen by Hivos organisation and its partners.
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