By Glory Msowoya

Blantyre, July 24, 2023: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Soil Fertility Expert, Dr. John Kazembe has underscored the need for farmers to start employing measures of restoring soil fertility in areas that were hit hard by Cyclone Freddy in a bid to use the same land in the next growing season.

Recently the country was hit hard by Cyclone Freddy which saw over 200,000 hectares of farmland being washed away.

In an interview to Malawi News Agency (Mana)on Monday, he said it was obvious that the farmland lost its topsoil hence the need for farmers to explore short and long-term measures like the use of fertilizer, manure, and agro forestry as ways of restoring soil fertility.

Kazembe said for suitability of fertility, there was need for farmers to include both long and short-term measures and it takes only a year for the land to regain its soil fertility.

“Soil fertility can be further improved by incorporating cover crops that add organic matter to the soil, which improve soil structure and promote healthy fertile soil. This can be done by using green manure or growing legumes, by micro-dose fertilizer applications among others.

“Another way of restoring soil fertility is agro forestry. It is a regenerative farming practice defined as the intentional combination of trees with crops and livestock into a single, integrated system, “he added.   

Kazembe pointed out that those districts that are in the lower shire should depend on manure to restore the soil fertility,

“Using manure restores nutrients to the soil while preventing erosion.  Rotational grazing and using high quality seeds are other steps that can combat soil problems,” he said.  

Farmers Union of Malawi President, Manes Nkhata said the farmer’s body has been on the ground making sure that farmers are implementing measures on how to restore soil fertility as one way of increasing crop production in the next harvesting season.

“We urge all farmers to actively participate in environmental rehabilitation and management through the protection of existing natural forests, planting of trees and avoiding cultivating along the river,”

“We encourage all farmers to put erosion control measures on their farms such as planting bananas and trees in gullies also constructing ridges to reduce runoff. Farmers should start making compost manure in readiness for the growing season,” she said.