NGOs Operating at Farmer Level

This article summarizes the findings of a research paper entitled “Problems Faced and Strategies Adopted by Farmers for Adapting to Climate Change in Xai-Xai District, Gaza Province” undertaken by researcher  from the Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM) under a project called "Managing Climate Related Risk to Improve Livelihood Resilience and Adaptive Capacity in Agricultural Ecosystems in Southern Africa", for the districts of Xai-Xai and Chicualacuala, Gaza province, Mozambique. 

Pesticides are essential for the control of infestation of disease, insect pests and weeds on different crops. Due to wide usage of synthetic pesticides which may lead to increased exposure and associated environmental and health risks among small-holder farmers in Zambia, a study was undertaken to understand how knowledgeable farmers are on pesticide use and practices. A total of 418 small scale farmers were randomly sampled from Mkushi, Mpongwe, Luangwa, Mbala, Solwezi, Chipata and Kalomo Districts of Zambia. Data pertaining to types of pesticides use, handling, storage and disposal was solicited using structured questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS. Findings revealed that of the sampled farmers 43%, 30%, 25% and 17% used Glyphosate, Dicamba, Paraquat and Atrazine respectively as herbicides in Maize. 21% and 14% used Cypermethrine and Monocrotophos respectively as insecticides in both Maize and Soybean. 81% of the sampled farmers used empty containers for either storing drinking water or salt while only 15% wore protective clothing when applying pesticides. Pesticide mishandling occurred regardless of the amount of experience a farmer had using pesticides. 68% of the sampled farmers had never received any formal basic training in pestic ide use, hence a clear knowledge gap. The fact that receipt of basic training was the main predictor of a farmers’ level of knowledge on pesticide use, a farmer who had received basic training in appropriate chemical pesticides use, as opposed to one who had not, had a better chance of using chemical pesticides safely and in the right quantities.

Abstract — A survey was undertaken in three districts of Zambia namely; Monze, Mpongwe and Chipata which are hosting the Agriculture Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) Sub-project titled “Developing Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Maize-Legume Systems for Smallholder Farmers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique”. The overall objective of this study was to get farmer perceptions of CA practices in the study districts for key information and research gaps that will contribute towards the development of CA based research agenda. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data from the respondents. Data generated was subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that the major hindrances to the application of CA practices lay in biophysical, technological, land, institutional and agro-climatic constraints.  Generally, farmers reported weeds as a major biophysical constraint to the implementation of CA technologies with Monze standing at 81.6% of the respondents followed by Mpongwe 58.1% and Chipata 52.1% respectively. This study recommends strengthening social networks of the community in order for them to have access to CA technologies information. Enhancing institutional linkages between Research, Extension and Meteorology departments is critical for dissemination of weather information which would aid in decision-making as to when farm operations would be carried out for improved agriculture productivity and production in the APPSA Project areas of Monze, Mpongwe and Chipata districts. 

Neste panfleto, poderá encontrar três novas variedades de amendoim, lançadas recentemente em Moçambique pelo IIAM (Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique) no contexto de um projecto financiado pelo APPSA, liderado pelo Dr. Amade Muitia. No geral, essas variedades são tolerantes a secas, manchas precoces / tardias e roseta e produzem cerca de 2,5 toneladas por hectare. Os nomes das variedades são Mapupulo-018, Amena-018 e AMM-018.

This poster highlight the crop varieties that APPSA has developed in Malawi with  support from the World Bank 

Climate change, especially prolonged drought events, reduce the availability of feed and water for livestock. This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which diet management option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their farmers as clients. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate Smart Diet Management Options for Livestock production in the southern African development community (SADC) region

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which post-harvest management option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices/technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate Smart Post-harvest Management Optionsformaize, sorghum and rice in the southern African Development Community (SADC) region. 

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which post-harvest management option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices/technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate Smart Post-harvest Management Optionsformaize, sorghum and rice in the southern African Development Community (SADC) region. 

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which planting system option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices/technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some oftheBestBetClimateSmartPlantingSystemOptions forMaizeandSorghumproductionintheSouthernAfrican development community(SADC)region.
 

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which soil amendment optionbestsuitstheirfarmers’context.Itfocusesonsome of the Best Bet Climate Smart Soil Amendment options forMaizeandSorghumproductionintheSouthernAfrican Development Community (SADC) region.