… To promote Conservation Agriculture. BY
KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Sydney Simelane, today extolled the benefits of Conservation Agriculture.
According to the PS, who was speaking through his representative Thembinkosi Gumedze, said the practice began 22 years ago in the country.
“I do not doubt that it will help us if we take Conservation Agriculture seriously, it is not only the implements that promote productivity. We should also use crop rotation to nourish the earth, as another method we should use to maintain high yields,” said Gumedze when speaking at the workshop today.
“This will reduce the need for fertilisers because they are also harmful to the earth,” added Gumedze.
His sentiments were echoed by Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise Managing Director Samson Sithole.
“One of the topics which are basing our discussions on is mechanisation. ESWADE, working through its smallholder market-led project, promotes Conservation Agriculture, as a way to help the country produce enough food which is also nutritious,” said Sithole.
Participants during the workshop were also shown different implements that they can incorporate in their Conservative Agriculture Practises.
The PS also revealed that over 80 farmers have been trained on Conservative Agriculture, and 1,200 households have received part of a E1.6 million disbursement to aid them in this farming season.
