Adopt new farming methods—ministry
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development extension and agriculture services director Jerome Nkhoma has asked farmers to embrace modern farming technologies.
Speaking during a field day organised by Salima Agriculture Development Division (ADD) at Mphonde Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Nkhotakota on Thursday, Nkhoma said adoption of agricultural technologies and practices would enable farmers improve crop and animal productivity.
He said: “Field days are undertaken annually to monitor implementation of various technologies in a particular area and create awareness among stakeholders.”
Nkhoma observed that the agriculture sector is experiencing climatic shocks; hence, enterprise diversification is the only way to sustain agriculture production and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Salima ADD acting programmes manager Richard Mgomezulu expressed satisfaction with the initiatives farmers have explored in controlling fall armyworms in farmer field schools.
He said the ADD has put in place measures to control the fall armyworms by, among other things, intensifying agricultural extension services.
Mgomezulu asked farmers to ensure that maize fields are free of weeds which act as hosts to the pest.
Nkhotakota District Council chairperson Thomas Kasache asked the ministry to scale up extension services to rural farmers who lack information.
The field day was held under the theme: Sustainable Agriculture Production Through Enterprise Diversification.n
