“My name is Francis Tembo from Dauzeni Village in Mhanshya Chiefdom of Rufunsa District. Through the support of CTDT, I was trained in compost making something that has completely changed how I farm and how I see my land.
Today, I use compost in my maize fields, alongside agroforestry practices, particularly planting musangu trees (Faidherbia Albida). The compost is made from a mix of dry grass and green leaves, which we carefully prepare following the training we received. I apply this compost in my conservation field, where I practice potholing, a technique that helps conserve water by capturing it in planting basins. The manure is placed directly into these holes, improving soil fertility and moisture retention.
Before this, many farmers in our community would abandon their fields once the soil lost fertility. But now, I have seen that with composting, the soil can remain productive year after year. We no longer need to keep shifting fields; we can farm sustainably on the same land. We also retain crop residues, which further improves soil health.
This approach has proven especially important during the droughts we have experienced. I remember clearly: the year I started applying these practices, we had a drought. Despite the harsh conditions, I was still able to harvest from my small conservation plot. Over the past two years, drought has severely affected many households, and government had to step in with emergency social cash transfers.
However, I did not need to rely on that support. I had enough maize from my field to feed my family through that difficult period. I did not even need to buy subsidized mealie meal. Conservation farming ensured that I harvested something, even in the toughest conditions.
Some people say conservation farming is difficult and yes, it can be in the first year. But after that, it becomes easier because we continue using the same planting basins. What once felt like hard work becomes a lasting investment.
From my experience, you will never go wrong with conservation farming. No matter the conditions, you will always harvest something.”
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