Posted on December, 10, 2018 at 10:48 am
Written by Rodney Majawa
Programme Manager for Blantyre Agricultural Development Division (BLAAD), Erick Haraman has advised farmers in the division to follow all crop husbandry practices such as weeding for high productivity.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday in Blantyre, Haraman said: “Weeding prevents competition for moisture and other food values between the staple crop and its key enemy, weeds.”
“It is advisable to engage in early weeding activities in any maize field; as the decomposed substances enhance soil fertility and improves high moisture content once the box ridges are thoroughly constructed,” he added.
Haraman said cultural practices assist in eliminating certain toxic or harmful weeds which feed on the growing crop and consequently kill the plant if left unattended for a while, lowering production in turn.
He urged farmers within BLAAD to take advantage of rainfall breaks to thoroughly weed their gardens so that harmful plants easily die out and decompose. This, he said, transforms into organic manure necessary for the vibrant and healthier outlook of crops.
Haraman also encouraged farmers to critically and seriously weed their fields, saying they might not have another opportunity of weeding once the temporal rain fall break is over in the near future.
Random interviews conducted among farmers around Machinjiri, Ngumbe-Kameza and Ntonda off Chikwawa Road in the district (Blantyre) established that most farmers were weeding.
Mana also established that farmers within the division were well sensitised on the need to weed their fields for high productivity.
Source: Malawi News Agency (MANA Online)