Minimum tillage means loosening the soil only where the seed goes. Farmers do this with planting basins or with ripping lines (oxen-drawn). The rest of the field is left undisturbed. It is one part of conservation farming, which also asks for crop residue cover and crop rotation. Extension services promote these practices to improve yields, conserve soil moisture and reduce land degradation. Climate planners also recognise them as potential mitigation measures under the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. But are they delivering the expected benefits for farmers?
Crops
4.9 Million Tonnes Today. El Niño Tomorrow: How Should Zambia Farm Maize for the 2026/27 Season?
Zambia is coming out of a remarkable 2025/26 maize season. Bumper yields delivered a record-setting 4.94 million metric tonnes of maize, well clear of our ~4.2 million metric tonne domestic requirement. But farmers are now making decisions for a very different season.
What Maize Market Reform Means for Farmers Under CATSP
Zambia is entering a new era of farming. The Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) is the government’s 10-year plan to move from traditional subsistence farming to a high-yield, commercialized industry. For the Zambian farmer, this means a shift in how you access financing, technology, and markets.
How Climate Change Is Changing Planting Dates in Zambia
Suppose a farmer plants their maize in November like others have done for years, only to watch the seed sit in dry soil for weeks. Are farmers still trusting current rainfall patterns? Do traditional planting dates still work the way they used to? Across Zambia, farmers are adjusting their planting dates because rainfall patterns are becoming less predictable. Here’s a detailed analysis of how rainfall patterns have changed over the years.
5 Crops You Can Plant in March That Will Thrive in The Cold Season
Many farmers slow down planting towards the end of March because the rainy season is ending. The assumption is that crops will struggle once temperatures begin to drop. However, this period can actually work in your favor. Cooler weather reduces pest pressure and helps certain crops develop better flavor and structure. By choosing crops that … Read more
What You Actually Need to Farm 5 Hectares of Maize -Traditionally vs Commercially
Maize is Zambia’s staple crop, but very few people understand what it truly takes to farm it at scale. Five hectares sounds small on paper, yet it sits at an awkward middle ground, too big for casual farming, too small for full mechanisation, and too expensive to treat lightly. This article breaks down the difference between how traditional farmers and commercial farmers farm 5 hectares of maize, and why the two approaches lead to completely different outcomes
Should the FRA Have Raised the Maize Price?
That is the question many are asking as Zambia enters a new crop marketing season. The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced that it will buy a 50-kilogram bag of white maize at K340, up from K330 last year. While the increase is modest, it represents a step toward supporting farmers after a year that delivered a bumper harvest.
Zambian Farmers Swear By These 5 Crops During Cold Season-#4 Is Will Surprise You
Zambia’s cold season, running from May to August, is the perfect time to grow certain crops that actually prefer cooler temperatures. While some plants go dormant or struggle in the chill, others thrive, offering farmers a smart opportunity to keep producing food and income.These five crop categories are cold-season champions.
Top Crops Grown in Zambia (Full Data Inside)
Zambia is home to a wide variety of crops, with agriculture forming the backbone of the nation’s economy. In this post, we take a closer look at the top crops grown in Zambia during the 2021/2022 agricultural season.
How To Grow Ginger
Because of it’s appearance, the ginger root may seem like a mysteriously difficult herb to grow. However, with a low amount of sunlight, this plant is pretty easy to grow. So, if you have indoor space or a shaded area to grow ginger, then this is one profitable herb you can harvest all year round.