THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING SOIL

By Penjani Nzima

LAND as a factor of production is sometimes also referred to as natural resources. It includes all naturally – occurring resources such as soil, water, air, plants, etc that can be used in the production process – Quickonomics.  

And it is very important for farmers to have adequate knowledge about how soil can be maintained in order for them to become profitable in their farming business undertaking.  

According to Abel Hangoma a renowned and passionate organic farmer reviewed in an exclusive telephone interview that soil regulate the exchange of gases but at the same time holds the bigger percentage of carbon.

“When your soil is damaged it doesn’t have the capacity to hold the nutrients and gases that are suppose to be kept in control hence, they escape and gets to the atmosphere and alter the eco system that affects the rainfall pattern and also the temperatures,” he explained.

Mr. Hangoma noted that it is not so in organic farming because soil is taken care of including the eco system to a point where micro-organisms and organic matter help in regulating the gases.

He added that soil contributes heavily in the regulation of atmospheric gases that contribute to climate change. And with correct practices there’s going to be harmony resulting in total climate control.

“If you don’t treat the soil very well, it is going to be affected because the soil won’t be playing the role that it is suppose to be playing. If the soil is alive it will help to maintain a proper atmosphere in terms of climate,” indicated Mr. Hangoma.

He lamented at the continuous use of chemical fertilizers by most farmers saying this affects the life of soil as a living organism.

“When you introduce chemicals in the soil its life is disturbed because soil is a living organism. Then as a result because you cannot produce from a dead soil so the soil must be very living, very healthy, happy smiling and bouncy. Then it will give you very good yields,” he emphasized.    

Mr. Hangoma said the usage of chemical fertilizer may give the farmer a good yield for few years but with the passage of time the soil will deteriorate.  

“I have seen and studied the trends of the destruction which this thing has brought to farmers like for example in Southern province the soil has become very compact it doesn’t hold nutrients the micro-organisms do not survive because of the escalation of foreign materials in the soil,” he disclosed.

He confirmed that the usage of synthetic methods contributes to the problem of climate change.

Mr. Hangoma is appealing to farmers to seriously consider embarking on organic farming as it has the ability to improve their soil nutrients levels every year even for the future generation.  

“My advice right now is this year our slogan says become organic farming or stop farming. When you become an organic farmer, then you become part of the solution.  The practices that are happening in organic farming instead of using things that are destroying the soil you’re using things that are building the soil so even the future of your children is going to be certain,” disclosed Mr. Hangoma.  

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