Biofertilisers are providing smallholder farmers with a minimal cost, environmentally friendly, effective and sustainable option for enhancing soil fertility needed for sustainable crop production.
Friday Mutawu (58), a farmer from Goromonzi has been using biofertilisers for the last sixteen years. He says each year soil fertility in his crop fields increases. This has enabled him to get better yields as compared to when he was using synthetic fertilisers.
“I started using biofertilisers in 2006 and they greatly improved my yields. Biofertilisers enhance the quality of my crops and help boost production because the yield I get when growing crops using biofertilisers is more than the one I get using synthetic fertilisers,” says Friday.
Taonga Pasurayi (29), a smallholder farmer from Gutu working with Chinyika Community Development Trust was part of the farmers who were trained. Taonga says she benefited greatly from participating in the training.
Spurred by successes registered by smallholder farmers like Taonga, PELUM Zimbabwe members are actively promoting biofertilisers among smallholder farmers. At the end of August 2022, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust hosted a biofertiliser making training under the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP). The training was attended by several smallholder farmers from different parts of the country including Friday Mutawu. Agriculture Extension Officers, CSOs and the media also attended the training.
“I have enhanced my knowledge on making biofertilisers. My knowledge on making biofertilisers was limited but this exercise has helped to enhance my knowledge and productivity,” says Taonga.
Taonga adds that biofertilisers are a better alternative to synthetic fertilisers that are expensive and harmful to organisms living in the soil.
“Biofertilisers have huge benefits. As a farmer, I have noticed that biofertilisers improve my soil quality, whilst synthetic fertilisers damage the soil. In addition, biofertilisers are cheaper because they are made using organic matter and animal waste as compared to synthetic fertilisers which have chemicals which can harm microorganisms and cause health complications in the long run,” says Taonga.
Farai Gumisai (39) the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Programme Officer for Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO Trust) says the use of biofertilisers promotes a holistic approach to crop production.
“Using biofertilisers is important because they reintroduce microbes, microorganisms and minerals into the soil structure. In agroecology we want to promote and improve people’s health. This training is a holistic approach as we are promoting biodiversity, income generation, health and environmental preservation,” says Farai.
The training was held in Biriri, Chimanimani district over two days and focused on Bocashi, Fermented cow manure, Solid native microbes, Apichi, and Ash Brew biofetilisers. There were 84 participants who took part in the training.