1.How can farmers adapt to climate change?
Well, I would suggest that even as broadcasters and experts talks about ways in which farmers can adapt to climate change, they must talk about strategies that are feasible and cost effective to small scale farmers.
Farmers can adapt to climate change by growing drought resistance crops which in most cases does not require fertilizer application. Farmers can be encouraged to grow crops such as orange fleshed sweet potatoes that are so rich in vitamin A.
Cassava and Sorghum are also drought resistance nutritional crops that farmers can consider growing than depending on maize which is highly affected by climate change.
Farmers should also be encouraged to grow cowpeas which does not require the use of fertilizer, besides cowpeas is good for soil as it fixes nitrogen. The nuts are so nutritional as well as the leaves.
The extreme weather conditions have made sources of water to dry up as such farmers should be encouraged to harvest rainwater for use in case they experience a dry spell or during the dry season.
Farmers can easily construct earth banks where rainy water can be flowing whenever it rains, by so doing, the small scale farmer can conserve water for use. The farmers can capture rainy water in dams, tanks and containers too.
As for the livestock farmers, they can also be encouraged to harvest water for their livestock in view of climate change than to walk with livestock long distance in search of sources of water. It would be good if the livestock farmers also kept fewer animals for easy management, by so doing the livestock could have adequate feed and water for all.
2.What information do they need to adapt to their practices?
The farmers need information about the effects of climate change so that they can easily venture into good agricultural practices that are environmental friendly.
They need to be told that deforestation has a negative effect on climate as it also makes sources of water to dry up.
Farmers needs information that because of climate change the rainfall pattern becomes unpredictable, they can receive too much rain which can cause flooding and they can also experience drought. Broadcasters with the help of experts as well as farmers who have ventured into climate smart agriculture should assist the farmers in implementing agriculture practices that have worked well in view of climate change.
Farmers need information about the benefits of conservation farming which will make them to achieve high yields and not cause disturbance to the soil. They need information on the importance of farming with trees which have benefits to the soil, trees like Gliricidia which COMACO in the Eastern part of Zambia is highly promoting to be planted together with the crops as it helps to return nutrients to the soil.
The tree grows very fast, brings back lost fertility in the soil, supports the growth of crops as it becomes a quick and effective source of natural fertilizer from the second year after it is planted.
3.Where can they get this information?**
This information can be obtained through farmer programs from radio stations who should be featuring agricultural experts, extension officers, NGO’s and farmers.
- What information can radio stations share?**
Small scale farmers in the rural parts of the country trusts radio so much as the most reliable source of information, as such radios must live up to their ethical standards of disseminating factual and accurate information.
Radio stations can share information on climate change, its effects and ways in which farmers can mitigate the effects of climate change.
The radios can share information on how climate change has adversely affected farmers in terms of crops withering due to lack of rains or the effects of floods on their agricultural activities. The radios can share information on how deforestation affects climate, how it causes soil erosion and sources of water to dry up.
When radios share information on bad agricultural practices that contributes to climate change, adaptation to climate smart agriculture will be easy.Radio can also share information on ways in which to mitigate the effects of climate change, things like farming with trees and practicing conservation farming.
I THANK YOU ALL BANDA THAT I.
