In Malawi just like whole world that we need to
increase food production if we are to feed the growing population with shifting
diets in near future. The population of Malawi is projected to grow to 25 million people by the year 2030 and double by year 2050
(http://www.livepopulation.com). The diet in most households has shifted,
people are now consuming more animal products than previous decades and demand
for rice is growing due to increase in income and urbanization. Therefore our
farmers are faced with the challenge to increase food production but they can
no longer do so by expanding agricultural land as our grandfather’s generation
used to do, because there is no more land left for agricultural expansion. The
only option is that of increasing food production on the existing land/farm
area and the 1 million dollar question is how will farmers increase food
production without opening new farm areas?
In this article I will explain good agronomic
practices (GAP) as an avenue that can enable to increase food production on the
current farming area in Malawi. Worldwide GAP accounts for 50% or more increase
agricultural productivity.
Principle
Components of Good Agronomic Practices
1)
Profitable and sustainable crop rotations
Crop rotation is an important agronomic practices that
enhances long term soil productivity and prevents build-up of pests and
diseases. The recommendation is to rotate crops that of different families. In
Malawi’s Maize dominated cropping system the common practice is to rotate maize
with legume crops such as soybean, pigeonpea, groundnuts, cowpea and other
legumes. In some parts such as Lower Shire where people grow more sorghum,
legumes should be rotated with sorghum. Such rotations in the context of Malawi are
both profitable as farmers will have a crop to harvest from each year and
sustainable due to additional nitrogen fixed by legumes that will partly reduce
amount of fertilizer application.
2)
Well adapted, Quality seeds
You should always plant seeds for the varieties that
are best adapted to your area and are likely going to desirable yields. If you
do not have the knowledge about adapted and high performing varieties, consult
agricultural extension workers in your area, they usually have a list of
varieties that are suitable to particular areas. Make sure you are planting seeds that have
high vigour, free from pests and diseases and do not recycle seeds of hybrid
maize varieties.
3)
Timing of planting
Planting early is important to maximize yield
potential. Make sure you also plant at correct spacing each variety has its
recommended planting spacing in different systems.
4)
Crop residues and soil management
“Prepare your soils and mage the residues from
previous crops in the right way to ensure the right conditions for the seeds to
be planted to grow very quickly and vigorously” Dobermann. Residues from
previous crops should be put back into the fields to improve soil health by
adding organic matter when they decompose but also release nutrients back.
Putting back residues will reduce amount of mined nutrients, nutrients removed
by harvesting crops.
5)
Maximize water capture
Maximize the use of available water by implementing
structures that will reduce runoff such as contour and box ridges and
harvesting rain water and constructing dams. Pit planting is also being used in
some areas to encourage water infiltration and mulching to reduce water lost
through evaporation.
6)
Balanced use of mineral fertilizer and other sources
Make sure to balance the use of mineral fertilizer and
any other organic sources of nutrients. Some
nutrients such as nitrogen are very expensive other come from soil so we need
to use them efficiently and recycle them as much as possible. I will encourage
you to use the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship that promote best management
practices to achieve cropping goals while minimizing field nutrient loss and
maximizing crop uptake. These 4Rs are Right source, Right rate, Right time and
Right place.
7)
Integrated pests management
Make use of all possible combination of measures that
include cultural, biological, chemical and physical practices to manage pests.
Utilize mainly ecological principles and relies much on protective measures of
chemical kinds.
8)
Timing of harvesting
Make sure you harvest at the right time not too earl
and not too late to avoid losing out on yield or quality aspects of your
produce. Almost 1/3 of the food we produce is lost and wasted.
These practices vary from one field to another so we
need to implement what is applicable to our situations.
