Chrispine Kikuta, a farmer and agro-processing specialist, has underscored the importance of diversifying Zambia’s crop production to include alternatives such as cassava, millet, sorghum, and sunflower. In an interview with Flava News, Mr. Kikuta stated that these crops are better suited to withstand heat and drought compared to traditional crops.
According to Mr. Kikuta, these resilient crops have the potential to thrive even in adverse conditions like the current prolonged drought, which has persisted for almost three years. He has expressed concern over the continued reliance on maize cultivation by small-scale farmers, noting that maize production has shown minimal improvement over the years.
Questioning the rationale behind persistently growing the same crop despite stagnant production levels, Mr. Kikuta highlighted the need for farmers to explore alternative crops. He stressed that farmers have failed to meet production targets for the past six decades, urging them to embrace crop diversification as a solution.
Additionally, Mr. Kikuta has encouraged farmers to consider implementing irrigation and damming techniques to mitigate the effects of drought. He emphasised the importance of adopting innovative farming practices to adapt to changing climate conditions and improve agricultural productivity.
