CTDT intensify campaigns against climate change.

.... Nkoma advice to adopt and utilize the traditional crops supported by diversity as a means of achieving resilience to the negative effects of climate change

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka - (27 - 06 - 2022- Zambia24) - Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) has observed that climate change easily is tackled by adopting and utilizing the traditional crops supported by diversity as a means of achieving resilience to negative effects of climate change.

CTDT country director Charles Nkoma told journalists at a breakfast meeting that traditional crops and legumes, including vegetables, are not only easily adaptable to climate change but also provide immediate food and nutrition.

Nkoma explained that agrobiodiversity and farmer-managed seem can easily be used as a means of adaptation to climate change.

According to Nkoma, creating awareness among the farmers on the importance of having healthy soil and women's participation in the against climate change is one of the possible means to tackle climate.

He said once the farmers know the effects of climate change, it can be easier for them to adopt climate resilience production systems.

Nkoma was of the strong view that strengthening agrobiodiversity and farmer-managed systems in policy documents and climate action will be an added advantage.

He said his organization has put in place measures to ensure that not only farmers but also ley key stakeholders in the farm system know about climate change.

He expressed happiness that in some places this method is being done and farmers are already making demands from the government on what they expect to see in their quest to achieve their objectives.

He said there is also a need to include agriculture stakeholders in climate change committees and agrobiodiversity and Farmers Managed Seed Systems in the nation's agriculture policy and environments.

Nkoma explained that it is the prime object of his organization to ensure that the right seed that can withstand the negative effects of climate change is planted.

He regretted that in the recent past, seeds are subjected to pass through the seed central for certification before reaching the destination.

He observed that those seeds that are not certified are not allowed to be sold or given out to the farmers for planting for lack of quality and certification.

Nkoma pointed out that traditional seed varieties which not uniform among the seed varieties and cannot pass through the certification for distribution.

He said traditional crops and legumes like ground nuts, potatoes, and carrots are not only nutritious but also resistant to the harsh conditions of climate change.

He noted that in the past some of the worlds, traditional crops and legumes were considered to be food for the poor.

Only until recently have people are beginning to appreciate the medicinal played by the traditional seed varies, focus was on the hybrid crops which they planted for commercial purposes.

He said today, it has become fashionable for people to begin encouraging farmers to consider having a diverse variety of crops as the best formula to fight climate changes

He said the best remedy to the negative effects of climate change is to have many trees that absolve the carbon.

Also, Nkoma said that healthy soil comes in handy when it comes to protecting the environment.

And speaking at the same function CTDT  programs officer Diana Mapulanga explained that the relationship that exists between climate change and agenda as the level of disadvantage suffered

Mapulanga told journalists that the widening inequality between men and women in accessing the benefits is a source of concern for many.

She said when disaster hit, women are more likely to get injured and end suffer more than men.

She said the inclusion of women in the fight against climate change will help to achieve the objective.