Zambia: The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization and with support from the United States, is set to implement the 20 million United States dollar Soilfer project in all districts across the country.
Zambia Agriculture Research Institute Director Dickson Ng’uni said the four year project is meant to change the narrative in the agricultural sector by ensuring that the soil is tested in the laboratory to suit the type of fertilizer to be used for farming.
Speaking in Ndola, Ng’uni lamented that the failure to apply fertilizer blankets is affecting yields, hence the need for the soilfer project.
Ng’uni added that the project will address the requirements of fertilizer in the country.
He said, “The technical team will be on the ground to collect soil samples for the laboratory tests and analyze the results. ”
He further explained that the analysis of the results will inform what will be required to replenish the soil’s depleted resources.
ZANIS reports that Ng’uni also revealed that the project results may encourage a downward adjustment to the number of bags of D-compound and Urea fertilizer given to farmers.
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo said the effectiveness of the silver project would help the government save money on fertilizer.
“We are very lucky as a country to be the only African country to implement the Soilfer Project, this is a clear indication of the good governance in the country,” Kasongo noted.
He has also thanked the United States of America for the financial support and the Food and Agriculture Organization for working with the Ministry of Agriculture on the project.
Food and Agriculture Organization Soilfer Project focal point Zuba Mwanza explained that the project team will start by identifying all the efforts and interventions done so far and build on it to plan the four years soil mapping initiative.
Mwanza said the team will digitize the soil mapping so that it is available in digital format. “We also plan to establish soil laboratories in the country for the soil testing”, he noted.