Conservation agriculture is “one of the most efficient and scientifically proven adaptation options,” says a story in the Daily Mail, but its adoption in Zambia has been relatively low.

As part of conservation agriculture, “there is growing emphasis to encourage farmers to practice agroforestry,” utilizing species such as Faidherbia albida which fix nitrogen and can provide benefits to crops.

Conservation agriculture practices involve zero or minimum soil tillage, permanent soil cover with plant residues and crop rotation or intercropping. These practices are designed to improve farm productivity through improving soil structure, preventing erosion, and enhancing soil moisture and soil carbon

The article calls for greater support from government, NGOs and the private sector for farmers to take up conservation agriculture and climate-smart agriculture. It suggests the private sector could help to promote the creation of environmentally-sound social enterprises that build on farmer cooperatives to speed up adoption.

Better linkages between farmers and profitable urban and export markets, establishing processing industries in rural areas, improved extension services and reliable climate warning systems are all cited as ways to enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholders to ensure farm productivity in a changing climate.

Read the full story: How to improve conservation agriculture