Icrisat encourages modern agriculture
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) is encouraging farmers to adopt modern methods of farming to reduce poverty levels.
Icrisat Senior Agriculture Specialist, Robert Navin, said there is need to implement crop modification to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Icrisat and the Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies (Misst) have embarked on a project called Feed the Future initiative which is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development.
“Most of these farmers grow local varieties but the crops do not do well because of effects of climate change. The project is aimed at modifying farming methods so that farmers can benefit,” Navin said.
He was speaking during a familiarisation tour targeting farmers in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Zomba and Machinga districts. The farmers are engaged in sorghum farming.
Through the project, the farmers are being given improved varieties to increase harvests.
However, Icrisat Project Manager, Socha Chitaya, has urged the beneficiaries to share their knowledge and improved varieties with other farmers.
“This initiative is just a multiplication of the seeds, therefore, when you harvest do not sell or consume every grain. Instead, exchange it with your neighbour so that more farmers should use the improved varieties,” Chitaya said.
