By Joseph Ligowe

Blantyre, March 21, Mana: Blantyre District Council has expressed satisfaction with the modern farming practices farmers in the district adopted, saying this guarantees food security at household level.

Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Councilor Elson Dumuka said this during the week at an agricultural field day noting that adoption of modern farming technologies has potential to improve on food security and general livelihood,

Dumuka made the remarks at Traditional Authority Kapeni in the district where Blantyre District Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee (DAECC) organized the field day to provide opportunity for farmers to share knowledge and skills for improved agricultural production.

Among others, the farmers showcased several conservational agriculture technologies such as manure making, fertilizer-making using human urine, construction of swales and stone bands. 

“I am satisfied with improved farming methods that are done in this area, I would like to see all farming households to continue with the technologies so that hunger can be alleviated in the district," he said.

Director of Agriculture Services at Blantyre District Council, Edward Katunga, said that many farmers realize good harvest after adopting good farming practices.

”We believe that if the current trend, which enables farmers to achieve food sufficiency at the household level and within the district, continues, we will collectively make Malawi a hunger-free nation by 2063,” he added.

One of the farmers, Simeon Mikeya from Mchere Village, Traditional Authority Kunthembwe in the district, hailed the council for providing extension services on improved farming technologies.

"We are shining because of the guidance that we get from our extension workers and other non-governmental organizations like Bayer Malawi, One Acre Fund, and Glow-best, among others, on good farming technologies.

“I am into maize production, and since the extension workers started visiting me, my knowledge on conservation agriculture has improved. My harvest from my half-acre plot improves each year," he said.

DAECC, a committee comprising stakeholders in the agriculture sector at council level, holds agriculture field day every year to allow farmers to showcase modern agricultural practices learnt from agricultural extension workers.