Some extension workers have noted that most farmers are so used to traditional habits and practices in crop and livestock production that it will take a lot of convincing for them to switch to modern ways of agriculture.
Assistant Veterinary Officer for Chiseka Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Dowa East Wisdom Kanyinji noted that a change in mindset is what it takes to help farmers move from the traditional ways to modern technologies for them to realize the impact of their crop and livestock enterprises and improve their livelihoods.
He cited that for instance most farmers keep animals for prestige rather than for health benefits explaining that Farmer Field Schools will help farmers analyse their problems in keeping livestock and come up with practical solutions.
The Assistant Veterinary Officer underscored the need to promote the rearing of animals for nutritional purposes and to have a healthy nation.
Kanyinji however said the challenge is that most farmers look after these animals using old and traditional ways but as extension workers, they want them to boost their income levels and nutritional status.
“With interventions such as farmer fields schools, this will help them understand the benefits of rearing and keeping livestock so that their incomes are boosted together with their daily requirements in as far as nutrition is concerned.
“I believe for any intervention to work, you have to start with the mindset change. So I believe with the coming in of the farmer field schools, we’ll be able to get problems which farmers face in as far as livestock is concerned and then we’ll be able to assist the farmers to come up with solutions on how best they can address those problems”
He added that the schools will equip farmers with relevant knowledge on principles of animal production such as khola construction, disease prevention, nutrition and feeding.
Another extension worker Grace Dayo from Malingunde EPA Lilongwe West touted the schools as a sure initiative which will guide them on how best to handle farmers in terms of following modern agricultural practices.
“Once we graduate here when we go to the field, we’ll start following steps that are relevant to help farmers to change their mindset and also we’ll deliver the new technologies according to what is really needed on the ground.”
“This initiative helps farmers by proving solutions to their problems in improving livestock production”
The week long agricultural training for the extension workers will facilitate the implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) II funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) in Dowa, Mzimba, Lilongwe and Balaka districts.
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