Page 142 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

Evidence of

Adoption from

Demonstration plots

– Ng’wanaibengwe

Agrovet

I was not around during the planting of Khadija farm but when I came, Khadija told me about the demo plot, I was
eager to do the same on my farm. I decided to follow what had been done to Khadija’s farms. I followed each stage of
the demo until the end. I used to harvest two to four bags of maize per acre as I was not applying fertilizer (basal and top
dressing). I used to increase the production of crops by increasing the area under cultivation. As time goes on, areas for
cultivation are decreasing, since as we have inherited land from our fathers, so we must give part of it to our children when
they grow up. This season I managed to get 22 bags of maize in an acre; I am happy I got enough food from a small piece
of land. After harvesting the maize, I planted groundnuts and they are doing very well because of the fertilizer I applied.

Japhet Ndahya.

Challenges see the effect of using fertilizer in real life. Currently limited
use of fertilizer and other agrochemicals represent several
In the Lake Zone where the BMGF project has been challenges: 1) Agrodealers aren’t selling enough stock;
implemented, the level of fertilizer use is still very low 2) farmers are struggling to improve their agricultural
largely due to a lack of awareness of its benefits. AFAP is productivity; and 3) the threat to the nation’s food security.
working in collaboration with Hub Agrodealers to conduct Fertilizer companies, Government and Agrodealers have
demand-creation activities, which aim to help farmers see implemented a number of strategies to make sure that
the positive impact of fertilizer and other agrochemicals. fertilizer is available to the farming community. However,
Demand creation can be done in various ways, one being usability has been a challenge due to purchasing power,
the setting up of demonstration plots, where farmers can
cultural norms and beliefs that fertilizer destroys the soil.

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