Permaculture dryland trial

The idea for a 1ha permaculture zone 3 dryland trial at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC), Zambia, grew out of a small planning session between permaculturists from Africa and Ali Sharif of Permaculture Latin America (PAL) in Johannesburg in June 2008. PAL found support for the 1^st year of the trial; which aims to demonstrate with scientifically verifiable data that more value can be produced than from a monocrop of maize often aimed for in conventional farming. The trial is looking at food security, health benefits and monetary surplus. It is designed for the African landscape, utilising crops like pumpkin, cowpeas, pigeon pea, sweet potato, sorghum, beans, millet, maize, comfrey, Artemesia, and Moringa.

The piece of land allocated had been a pasture for many years and results of soil tests revealed that the quality of the soil was very poor. A few years will be necessary to bring the land to its full health and potential productivity. The plot is between planted rows of Winter Thorn trees, known locally as Musangu. This is a soil improvement tree which loses its leaves during summer rains and therefore does not compete with the crops.

There were problems: More rain than usual brought snails, and this combined with stalk borer, termites, birds, and blister beetles to fell some of the maize. Botanical remedies and others were tried with mixed success. Much was learnt for better preparation next season.

The many visitors inspired and excited by the plot have included farmers, students and the First President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. There have been periodic monitoring visits by Plan Africa and the University of Zambia team members. The University is undertaking nutritional and soil analysis and Kasisi and the UNZA team will be producing a final report. Data is being continuously collected by Kasisi on inputs and the output.

Harvesting began as rains ended in April. Planning has commenced for 2009-10 season.