Crop diversity technologies excite Dedza farmers
\Small-scale farmers from Senior Chief Kachere in Dedza say Malawi can achieve food security if the country invests in crop diversity farming technologies.
Felia Harrison of Thambolagwa Village in the district said this last week during an Innovating Africa’s Future Project field day organised by the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College to appreciate the project’s strides in the district.
excited with her crops
The project focuses on diversification of crops; intercropping drought resistant crops such as sorghum and finger millet with orange maize, beans and soya beans aimed at improving soil and nutrition.
According to Harrison, a combination of soya beans and orange maize is crucial as both crops have responded well in her field in the just-ended growing season.
“I am expecting a bumper harvest from the same piece of land and I will have surplus food to sell,” she said.
Dedza district agricultural development officer Osmund Chapotoka said the initiative is important for nutrition.
“Apart from enhancing food security, the technology also improves soil fertility. Most importantly, the crops involved can stand drought,” he said, urging other farmers to adopt it.
The project’s principal investigator Mangani Chilala Katundu, who is also senior lecturer in food and nutrition security at Chanellor College, was excited with the farmers’ harvest. The project is funded by the European Union.
