INCREASE YOUR FARM PRODUCTION LEVELS

By Penjani Nzima

FARMING as a business iswhat the government and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector arepromoting. This is done with a sole purpose of making the farmers especiallythe small scale to appreciate and value their work.

These farmers (small - scale)out there need to have a clear and better understanding of why they are doingwhat they’re doing so that in the end they can become self-reliant and improvetheir livelihoods.

 Farming as a business hasfailed many small-scale farmers in this country mainly on the aspect of costlyproduction rate as a result of very expensive farming inputs such as fertilizersand other agro chemicals (herbicides or pesticides) that are needed in thismodern farming production.  

But small-scale farmersshouldn’t lose hope as a result of escalating prices of farming inputs that ispushing their production costs very high. They can simply adjust and revertback to old traditional way of producing their crops. This method is very cheap,effective and highly productive.

 According to SEBASTIANSCOTT the organic way of growing various crops is very effective. Findbelow some few steps that he recommends to increase farm profit and make the farm more fertile and droughtresistant every year.

Step 1: Add an annual legume or two, like soya or groundnut.

Step 2: Improve the use and storage of any livestock manureby protecting it from the sun and rain and applying small amounts nearthe seed.

Step 3:incorporate deep rooted, multi purpose legumes like pigeonpea, gliricidiasepium or leucaena in dry land fields.

Step 4: Value add 'low value' farm produce where possible,by turning it into feed for chickens or pigs. This allows the farmer to makemore money, have more regular income and have plenty of manure to fertilizeyour crops every year. 3,4and 5 will help you reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizer over time.

Step 5: Measure your field contours and put erosion controlmeasures to makes sure your most valuable farm asset- your soil- doesn't getwashed or blown away.

Step 6: Manage livestock for improved pasture productionthrough the use of planned rotational grazing.

Step 7: Add irrigation for horticultural production when youmake enough money from the first 6, or when you can.

Developing and following these methods has allowedus at Old Orchard Organic farm, to boast that we get commercial farm yieldswithout chemical fertilizer or chemicals for pest control.

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