Farmers urged to utilise animal dung
animal health livelihood development officer Frank Muwake has advised livestock farmers to utilise animal dung for manure as an alternative to fertiliser.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday during a goat pass-on programme event in group village head (GVH) Khuzumba, Traditional Authority Mizinga in the district said animal dung hasphosphorus, nitrogen and potassium nutrients essential for crop production.
“Farmers can harvest dung from their animals and combine with the little fertiliser they can access to apply to a large area,” said Muwake.
During the exercise, Nambazi Goat Club passed 75 goats to Mlambe Goat Club after receiving a K3 million grant from Adaptation Fund Programme to venture into livestock farming.
In an interview, Adaptation Fund Programme coordinator Richard Thole said the programme, which targets 35 000 smallholder farmers in nine traditional authorities in the district, seeks to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods amid climate change impact.
He said: “Through the programme, we also encourage farmers to insure their crops so that they can be compensated when they fail due to effects of climate change.
“In addition, we are also promoting climate smart agriculture technologies such as conservation agriculture and soil water conservation.”
Speaking after receiving the goats, one of the beneficiaries, Aida Nkomela, said she will utilise the dung to make Mbeya fertiliser to improve crop production.
“Not all farmers have the financial resources to purchase inorganic fertilisers; hence, the need to apply farm manure in gardens,” she said.
Meanwhile, GVH Khuzumba has advised farmers to take care of the goats.
