Grade 10-12 Geography
FARMING IN ZAMBIA AND THE SUB-REGION
Grade 10-12 Geography
Author: C.I. Chilukusha (Mrs)
Summary: This lesson plan covers land tenure in Zambia, types of farming, the problems associated with subsistence farming, the pastoral system, commercial farming, impact on the environment, farming in other countries in the sub-region, and an outline of Government measures to develop agriculture in Zambia.
ZAMBIA
A.

LAND TENURE
This is the process of acquiring and possessing of land by individuals. There are four types of land tenure in Zambia namely:
1. TRADITIONAL LAND
This is land controlled by traditional chiefs on behalf of the people. Individuals or families have the right to use the land but not to sell it. This land is inherited according to existing customary law.
2. FREE HOLD
This is reserve land especially on the unproductive land. Mostly used as collateral before independence.
3. STATELAND
This is the acquisition and control of land by the president in public interest. This is administered by the ministry of Lands which issues title deeds in collaboration with the council. 4. LEASEHOLD
This is the statutory lease of land for a maximum period of 99 years. This also requires the consent of the president. Certificates of title are also issued.

B.

TYPES OF FARMING

TRADITIONAL FARMING
This is the farming or growing of crops basically for the family’s’ sustenance. Small portions of land are cleared and the crops are food crops for consumption. No complicated machinery is used apart from axes and hoes. The following are some of the traditional systems:
CHITEMENE SYSTEM
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Cultivation involves the chopping of small trees, branches and some top of large trees by men and boys in May to August.
Small branches are usually carried by women and girls and put into piles.
This is usually done between June and September.

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The stacks are burnt in September or October to produce ash which acts as fertilizer on the field. After the first rains, millet and other crops are sown in the burnt area.
In the following years the fields are prepared by either tilling the land by making mounds or ridges in the cleared area previously burnt.
Crops are sown on rotational basis.
When soil becomes exhausted after 5 to 7 years farmers start new fields.
Farmers use simple tools for instance hoe, axe,
Food produced is mainly for consumption.
Crops grown are finger millet, sorghum, maize, cassava, rice, groundnuts, yams, cowpeas, beans, sweat potatoes, etc.

MAMBWE SYSTEM
• In March or April while the ground is still moist, a place of new land is hoed into mounds which bury the grass in order to make compost.
• Small bushes are then cut and heaped here and there on the uncultivated patches and later burnt. • Cassava and beans are planted on fresh mounds.
• In the second year in November – December, the mounds are leveled and the rotten material scattered as manure.
• Maize, sorghum and millet are planted as main crops.
• The mounds are re build in the third year and leveled again in the fourth year.
• There is little integration between livestock and field crops.
• Crops, similar to the Chitemene, are also grown.
THE LOZI SYSTEM
This has transhumance based on a number of land use practices determined by the varying environment in the plain.
LITAPA
• Here the land is prepared in mid May. Planting is done in June in plains.
• Crops flood.
• Crops are harvested in November.
MAZULU
• These are mounds made by pilling of sediments during floods or by human construction or by termites. • Crops are planted in November – December.
LISHANJO
• Cultivation is throughout the year.
• Crops are planted in June and harvested in November and others planted in November and harvested in May or June.
• This practiced at the edge of the plains.
MATONGO
• Crops are grown in the rainy season and soil fertility is maintained by manuring.
• This is practiced on the plateau.
MATEMA
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•
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This involves the chopping of branches, small trees and tops of big trees in May – August.
These branches are cut further and heaped.
The stacks are burnt in September or October to produce ash.
Cassava is then planted before the first rains.
Other crops are also planted in the rainy season.
The land is abandoned after 5 years.

The Lozi system has many agricultural techniques, that is, irrigation, drainage and making ridges.
• It is generally intensive and integrates livestock with crops farming which provides manure, transport and drought power.
• More labour is needed for digging canals, making ridges and herding cattle.
• Most of the crops grown are those under the Chitemene system, e.g. maize, finger millet, beans cassava, pumpkins, melons etc.
• Flooding can sometimes lead to crop failure.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSISTANCE FARMING
1. Soil erosion – This is the removal of topsoil by agents such as rain, wind or running water.
2. Diminishing yields – This is the decrease in production mainly due to unsustainable methods of farming e.g. Chitemene.
3. Deforestation – Due to cutting of trees which help hold soil together. This can lead to soil erosion and desertification.
4. Bush fires – This is due to early burning of fields and hunting.
5. Lack of capital – No money to purchase inputs or machinery.
6. Lack of inputs e.g. fertilizers and seed etc.
7. Lack of education – e.g. environmental awareness.
8. Unreliable rainfall and droughts.
9. Flooding causes excessive rainfall during some years.
10. Mono cropping – leads to soil impoverishment.
11. Pests and diseases – e.g. Tripanosomiasis and corridor disease.
12. Poor market leading to poor sales.
13. Poor transport especially impassable roads.
14. Long distance to markets especially to urban areas.
EMERGENT FARMERS
1. These are farmers who cultivate their land every year with soil fertility maintained by crop rotation and fertilizers.
2. Machinery and other inputs are used to increase yields.
3. Crops harvested are for consumption and some for sale.
4. Cash crops such as sunflower, cotton groundnuts are grown for sale.
5. Family or hired labour or tractors are used.
6. Common in Chipata, Mumbwa, and along the line of rail.
7. Livestock e.g. cattle is kept.
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Soil erosion.
2. Deforestation
3. Destruction of natural homes of plants and animals.
4. Displacement of wildlife due to cleared land.
5. Desertification caused by cutting down of trees.
6. Pollution caused by burning.

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IMPACT OF MARKET LIBERATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
1. Poor distribution of inputs affecting especially the small-scale farmers.
2. Low producer prices.
3. Poor marketing of produced crops.
4. Low yields as a result of undelivered inputs.
SOIL CONSERVATION MEASURES AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.
1. Contour ploughing – to retain moisture and avoid erosion.
2. Strip cultivation – protects the soil from erosion.
3. Crop rotation – to restore and replace nutrients.
4. Terracing – to retain moisture and check the flow of water downhill.
5. Mulching – covering the soil to retain moisture.
6. Ploughing across the slope to avoid erosion.
7. Controlled grazing – to allow for land regeneration.
8. Soil additives – adds nutrients to the soil.
9. Cover cropping – retains moisture and protects soil from erosion.
10. Afforestation – replaces cut down trees.
11. Fallowing – Allows soil to regenerate
12. Irrigation – Supplies additional water especially during droughts.
13. Organic farming – Use of leguminous plants to fertilize soil e.g. velvet beans, peas and other legumes. GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO IMPROVE SUBSISTANCE FARMING
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
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Provision or creation of co-operatives.
Creation of resettlement schemes.
Provision of extension services to educate the farmers.
Construction of feeder roads.
Use of drought animals e.g. donkeys in the southern province.
Provision of rural information services.
Distribution of inputs like fertilizers by government agents e.g. NGOs.
Purchasing and collection of harvested crops by Zambia Army and ZNS.
Fixing of purchase price of maize to avoid briefcase traders.

WAYS TO IMROVE FOOD SECURITY
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Improve marketing and storage facilities by Food Reserve Agency.
Production and distribution of seed by such as Zamseed, Pana Seeds.
Increase food production.
Improve crop research to have improved varieties of seeds e.g. drought resistant.
Improve transport especially feeder roads.
Providing credit facilities to small scale and emergent farmers.
Educating the farmers on sustainable methods of agriculture.

PASTORAL FARMING
TRADITIONAL PASTORALISIM
• Areas include Southern, Eastern, Western and Central provinces of Zambia.
• Breads of cattle include Angoni Tonga, and Zebu.
• Traditional pastoralists are Tongas, Ngonis, and Lozis.
• Other animals kept are goats (Northern Province) and pigs.

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FACTORS FAVOURING PASTORALISM
1. Absence of tse- tse flies.
2. Rich pastures e.g. along the rivers and the flood plains, flats like the Kafue flats and Bulozi flood plains.
3. Moderate to heavy rain fall.
4. Availability of water or rivers e.g. Zambezi.
PROBLEMS FACED BY TRADITIONAL HERDERS
1. Animal diseases like foot and mouth, tick borne and hay fever,
2. Ignorance of modern animal husbandry.
3. Long distance to markets.
4. Emphasis on quantity and not quality.
5. Recurrent droughts affecting pasture quality and availability.
6. Lack of dipping facilities.
7. Lack of storage facilities.
8. Poor grazing practices.
GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE BEEF CATTLE BREEDING
1. Establishment of ranches e.g. Mukushi, Chisamba, Mbala, Chishinga, Solwezi, Mbesuma,
Senanga, Mufulira, and Batoka.
2. Introduction of glazier schemes.
3. Providing training to farmers.
4. Providing farmers with loans.
5. Formation of support institutions to help purchase and market products e.g. NGOs.
6. Reduce interests on loans.
COMMERCIAL FARMING
This is the growing of crops (arable) and keeping of animals on animals on a large scale.
AREAS OF COMMERCIAL FARMING
1. Along the line of rail – Kalomo, Kapiri Mposhi, Kabwe, Mukushi, Choma, Mazabuka, etc. where they grow maize, vegetables, tobacco, sunflower, etc.
2. Copperbelt towns where they grow vegetables under market gardening.
3. Eastern province towns with groundnuts, maize, cotton.
4. Mwinilunga with pineapple estates.
5. Luapula – mununshi for bananas, kawambwa for tea.
6. Kasama for coffee.
7. Mazabuka for sugar.
LOCATION FACTORS
1. Good fertile land rich in humus.
2. Moderate temperatures (18 -24º C).
3. Moderate to heavy rainfall (700 – 1000mm) and above.
4. Availability of cheap and well co-coordinated transport ( road and rail ).
5. Availability of labour (skilled and unskilled)
6. Easy acquisition of farm inputs like machinery, fertilizers, seeds, insecticides and feed for animals. Agriculture – Zambia And The Sub Region

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EXERCISES
Write the growing conditions for the following crops:
a) Maize
b) Tobacco c) Cotton d) Tea
e) Coffee

d) sugarcane.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL FARMING TO ZAMBIA
1. Ensures food security.
2. Provides raw materials e.g. maize for mealie meal.
3. Stimulates other agro based industries e.g. tea processing.
4. Brings foreign exchange through exports.
5. Provides employment to farm workers etc.
IMPUTS IN COMMERCIAL FRAMING
These include land, labour, capital, machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds.

OUTPUTS
Animal products e.g. meat, polony etc.
Crops e.g. maize, coffee, etc.
ZAMBIA” S POTENTIAL IN SADC REGION
1. Plenty of arable land.
2. Plenty of rainfall.
3. Availability of fertile soil.
4. Ready market home and in the SADC.
ADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING
Consider all the points for IMPORTANCE above.
• Able to use machines.
• Flexibility in choice of crops.
• Large out put.
DISADVANTAGES
• Susceptible to price changes.
• High cost of inputs
• Damages the environment through chemicals.
• Mono culture can lead to desertification.
• Takes up a lot of space which could be used for other things.
IRRIGATION
This is the artificial application of water to crops.
LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN ZAMBIA
1. Nakambala sugar estate in Mazabuka.
2. Mpongwe Wheat scheme in Mpongwe.
3. Kawambwa Tea Estates.
4. Gwembe valley Development Company for cotton.
5. Kateshi and Ngoli coffee schemes in Kasama.

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FACTORS FAVOURING IRRIGATION
1. Availability of water e.g. pumped from underground.
2. Fertile soil
3. Well developed transport network.
4. Well established market.
5. Availability of labour – skilled and unskilled.
6. Availability of capital to buy equipment e.g. centre pivot.
7. Flat land.
8. Use of available research knowledge.
IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION
1. Increased food production e.g. cultivation through out the year.
2. Increased export e.g. horticultural products from Agri Flora abd Chisamba area.
3. Increased raw materials e.g. sunflower seeds and coffee beans.
4. Useful in the absence of rainfall or unreliable rainfall.
EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION ON ENVIRONMENT
1. Salinazation – this is the concentration of salts in the upper layer of the soil.
2. Water logging as a result of too much irrigation
3. Water pollution.
4. Water borne diseases e.g. bilharzias.
AGRICULTURE - SUB REGION
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE TO THE SUB REGION
1. It is a source of food e.g. mealie meal.
2. Source of employment e.g. farm workers.
3. It is a basis of many industries e.g. sugar refining.
4. It is the main source of revenue for governments.
Subsistance farmers practice shifting cultivation but get back to the land after some years.

MALAWI - SUBSISTANCE
CROPS – Subsistance crops include maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, rice, cassava, bananas etc.
AREAS; Lilongwe, Chitipa, Mzuzu, Zomba, Karonga, Katumbi, Livingstonia and almost all areas.
FACTORS FAVOURING SUBSISTANCE FARMING.
1. Fertile soil rich in humus.
2. Adequate land especially central Malawi.
3. Use of simple tools e.g. axes hoes.
4. Plateau area e.g. around Lilongwe.
5. Moderate to heavy rain especially on the plateau and the high lands.
EFFECTS OF AGRIC ON THE ENVIRONMENT
As stated under Zambia.

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SOIL CONSERVATION
As discussed under Zambia.
ZIMBABWE – SUBSISTANCE
Subsistence farming here is mainly based on communal land and emergence farms.
AREAS include Central Zimbabwe e.g. Masvingo, Gweru, Harare, Kadoma, Bulawayo, Bindura,
Buhera and almost all areas.
FACTORS FAVOURING SUB REGION AGRICULTURE
1. Fertile soils
2. Use of simple tools.
3. Availability of land especially flat land.
4. Use of artificial fertilizers.
5. Availability of family labour.
CROPS UNDER SUBSISTANCE FARMING
Maize, Sorghum, Groundnuts, Beans, Millet.
Emergent farmers cultivate cash crops like Wheat, Barley, Soya beans, Sun flower, Vegetables and cotton.
Animals kept are cattle and poultry.
PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND FOR SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE
1. Low annual rainfall e.g. less than 650 mm per year.
2. Unreliable rainfall – droughts.
3. Silting of rivers.
4. Infertile soils low in organic matter.
5. Soil erosion which leaves soil bare.
6. Less grazing land due to too many animals.
7. Lack of transport due to poor roads.
8. Areas of rock or dad lands.
9. Tse tse fly infestation especially near game reserves.
10. Lack of water supply especially from under ground.
11. Long distance to markets especially in urban areas.
12. Difficulties in obtaining credit facilities.
KENYA – PASTORALISM
THE MASAI
AREAS – These include the Kenya Highlands.
Types of cattle include Zebu.
FACTORS FAVOURING PASTORAL FARMING.
1. Equable temperatures to facilitate movement of cattle.
2. The area is a natural grassland e.g. the Masai steppe.
3. Masai are natural cattle herders.
4. Cattle bring honour.
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE MASAI
1. Seasonal high temperatures (38ºc) are uncomfortable.
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2. Poor quality natural grass as a result of erosion.
3. Masai keep cattle for their numbers and not quality.
4. Cattle diseases e.g. Nagana or Tripanosomiasis.
MEASURES TAKEN TO LESSEN THE BROBLEMS
1. Expansion of the export of meat.
2. Education of the Masai on good grazing practices.
3. Introduction of Indian bulls and Pedigree British cattle.
4. Re sowing of pasture with drought resistant and more nourishing grasses e.g. star grass.
5. Provision of veterinary services and fertilizers.
6. Introduction of more stable shelters.
7. Ranching schemes in drier grasslands west of the lake shore areas.
8. Provision of boreholes and valley tanks for extra water.
9. Encouraging farmers to keep a limited number or cattle.
10. Compulsory spraying and dipping of animals.
11. Establishment of monthly markets by dealers from Kampala.
IMPACT OF PASTORAL FARMING ON THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Trampling by animals causes soil erosion.
2. It can lead to deforestation.
USES OF CATTLE BY THE MASAI PEOPLE
1. Milk as a staple food combined with blood and semi-cooked meat.
2. Skins used for shelter and cloth.
LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL FARMING
TEA
AREAS
MALAWI – Mulanje mtn slopes, Sapitwa, Thiolo, Makwasa, and Nkhata Bay.
KENYA – Nairobi, Kericho, Fort Hall, Meru, Nyeri and Limuru.
ZIMBABWE – Mutare. Nyanga
Tea originated from China and was drunk as traditional plain (Green) tea.
It is an evergreen perennial shrub.
CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING
GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. High temperatures of over 21ºc.
2. Heavy rainfall of above 1500 mm.
3. No killing frost.
4. Slightly acidic well drained soil without calcium.
5. Grows on highlands and well drained soil.
6. Some shade to allow for cool air and humid weather to facilitate leaf growth.
CULTIVATION
1. Tea is grown from a nursery.
2. Six months later when the tea plants are 0.3m high, they are transplanted 1.5m apart into plantations. 3. Pruning is done at regular intervals to stimulate growth of shoots.
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4.
5.
6.
7.

At the end of the second year, picking begins up to the fiftieth year.
Tea needs a lot of capital, labour, well established transport network.
It is planted on plantations owned by multinational companies.
In Malawi, there are some small scale tea growers in Mulanje, Thyolo and Nkhata Bay.

PROCESSING
1. Picked leaves are taken the factory.
2. Leaves are dried in a heated room or in the sun.
3. The leaves are crushed by steel rollers.
4. The leaves are fermented to make the tea leaves black.
5. The fermented leaves are then dried again by roasting them until they become brown.
6. The tea leaves are then sifted, graded and packed in tea chests lined with tin foil to retain the aroma and freshness.
7. The packed tea leaves are ready for sale locally and abroad.
8. Most of the tea is exported to United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Holland.
PROBLEMS FACED BY TEA GROWERS
1. Land shortage due to increasing population in southern Malawi.
2. Seasonal rainfall especially drought affects production.
3. Lack of knowledge and capital by small scale farmers affects expansion.
4. Fluctuating prices of tea on the world market.
COFFEE
AREAS
ZIMBABWE – Chinoyi and Mhangura.
KENYA – Kericho, Kakameza and Mau escarpment.
Coffee is the second most drunk beverage, after tea.
Originated from Ethiopia and was first drunk by Arabs as coffee Arabica.
Coffee is a perennial crop which can produce for more than 40 years.
VARIETIES
1. ARABICA
This is the most aromatic, with the finest flavor.
It is the mostly used coffee.
2. ROBUSTA
It is the West African hardy coffee.
It has a stronger taste .
It is more resistant to disease.
It produces high yields.
It makes good instant coffee.
3. COFFEE LIBERICA
It is basically low land coffee.
A cross breed between Arabica and Robusta produces Arabusta.
GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. High temperatures of over 32ºc.
2. High rainfall of between 1000 and 1500 mm with dry season of not more than two months.
3. Well drained soil especially volcanic soils with a lot of air and moisture.
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4. Average height of between 1000 and 2500 m above sea level.
5. Some shade to prevent direct sunshine.
6. Some wind break e.g. bananas or any natural woodland to protect the coffee trees from strong winds. CULTIVATION
1. A nursery of seedlings is prepared.
2. It is transplanted after six months at intervals of 3 metres between plants in plantations and small holdings.
3. The trees are pruned yearly to allow for heavy bearing and easy picking.
4. Coffee needs a lot of labour for picking.
5. Harvesting of coffee begins in the third year.
6. Coffee needs a lot of money to buy machinery and insecticides.
7. Coffee production is affected by fluctuating prices on the world market, pests and diseases.
PROCESSING
1. Coffee beans are picked by hand, cured and washed.
2. Pulping – the coffee beans are separated from the pulp.
3. The beans are then dried, sorted, graded and roasted.
4. The coffee is then ground into powder and blended for sale.
5. Demand for robusta is increasing.
6. The pulp is used for cattle feed production.
SUGARCANE IN SOUTH AFRICA
AREAS
1. Sugar belt on the coastlands of Natal.
2. Natal mid lands e.g. Port Shepstorne and Durban.
3. Boundary with Transvaal.
GROWING CONDITIONS
1. Heavy rainfall of 1200 mm to 1250 mm but reduced at maturity to increase sugar content before harvesting.
2. Requires 14 months growing season.
3. Moderate temperatures of between 25ºc and 30ºc. Temperatures below 25ºc limit growth while those above 30ºc yields low sugar content.
NOTE: Lower temperatures in Natal have resulted in a longer growing season of 24 months.
CULTIVATION
1. Sugar cane is grown from cuttings of about 15 to 20 cm long with tow to four buds.
2. The cuttings are usually taken from the upper to middle parts of canes.
3. They are planted in strips or contours to allow for different maturity stages.
4. Drainage channels are made to supply additional water.
5. Planting is done in September to November, when temperature and rainfall are high.
6. The cuttings are dipped in hot water to prevent infections, and then dipped in fungicides before planting.
7. The cuttings are laid in shallow furrows about 140 cm apart.
8. Weeding and hoeing is done to allow for easy percolation of water.
9. Trashing or removal of leaves at the lower parts of the canes is occasionally done.
10. Harvesting is done from May to December by cutting the tall canes with long machetes.
11. The first plant is called PLANT CANE.
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12. The shoots that appear after cutting the canes are called RATOONS. These can also be harvested after two years and the field is replanted after fallowing.
PROCESSING
1. After cutting the tall canes, the leaves are removed from the canes.
2. The leaves, called TRASH, are left to cover the field to prevent moisture loss, cover weeds, prevent erosion and make humas.
3. The canes are put in bundles and transported to the mills by tractors and trailers.
4. The canes are processed on the same day by weighing and chopping the canes again to maximize the sugar removal.
5. Juice is extracted by passing the canes through rotating rollers.
6. The juice is heated and lime is added to neutralize the acid in the juice.
7. The fibrous waste called BAGGASE remains after the juice has been removed and used as a fuel in the mills’ rollers.
8. Suspended materials are removed from the juice by a process called clarification.
9. Impurities called mud sinks to the bottom. These are used in the field as fertilizers.
10. The clear juice extracted is boiled until sugar crystals are formed. More boiling produces more crystals. 11. The crystals are removed from the liquid by spinning and dried.
12. The liquid called molasses remains after all the crystals are removed. This is used as stock feed, fertilizer and for making alcohol.
13. The raw sugar is refined by dissolving it in water and adding a small amount of milk of lime and passing carbon dioxide through it.
14. The mixture is passed through rotary filters to remove more mud.
15. The mixture is the passed through charcoal to decolour it.
16. To produce white sugar, the sugar solution is again evaporated in pans to produce syrup which is then dried.
Refineries are located within the area of production e.g. Hullets, Durban, Umfolozi, Port
Shepstorne and Richards Bay.
NOTE
At Nakambala in Zambia,
Refining is done at the estate.
Some of the canes are grown by out grower schemes like the Kaleya small holdings and other farmers. Cane fields are burnt before cutting for easy cutting and safety of the workers.
Production is favoured by
• Irrigation
• High temperatures
• Flat land
• Availability of HEP
• Plenty of labour
• High demand both local and abroad.
In Malawi, sugar cane is grown in the lower Shire Valley, Lake shore area, Nchelo and Dwangwa.
In Zimbabwe, sugar cane is grown at Chiredzi.
General conditions of growth and processing apply. See previous notes.
MAIZE

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This is the most important crop in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
AREAS
Zimbabwe – Harare, Bulawayo, Chipinge etc. All over Zimbabwe.
Malawi – Lilongwe, Dowa, Thyolo, Ngabu, produces maize commercially.
GROWING CONDITIONS
1. Summer moderate rainfall of 620 to 1000 mm.
2. Moderate temperatures of 20ºc to 25ºc.
3. Red clayey soils which holds moisture.
4. Frost free maturity time with a lot of sunshine.
CULTIVATION
1. Planted from October to mid November.
2. Needs a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
3. Needs spraying and a lot of acetylic powders to prevent it from bores and beetles.
4. Matures after 4 months.

RICE
Rice is grown in sub tropical or tropical climate.
This is grown in Malawi at Nsanje, Ngabu, and Limbe Marsh.
GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS.
1. Needs upland terraced areas with a lot of water.
2. Heavy rainfall of at least 1270mm during 4 to 6 months of the growing season and a sunny harvest time.
3. High temperatures of 18c to 27c with no cold season.
4. Level ground to keep water.
5. An impervious sub-soil of clay or loamy soil to retain water.
6. Cheap and abundant labour for sowing, harvesting, and general preparation.
FACTORS INFLUENCING LARGE SCALE (COMMERCIAL) FARMING.
1. Availability of transport e.g. rail and road.
2. Availability of market e.g. within SADC and abroad.
3. Presence of labour for instance, unskilled e.g. local and foreign.
4. Capital in form of finances.
5. Machinery e.g. centre pivots, tractors etc.
6. Availability of fertilizers.
7. New seed varieties e.g. drought resistance.
8. Availability of other inputs e.g. herbicides.
9. Irrigation for double or increased yields.
10. Plateau or flat land for easy cultivation.
11. Fertile and well drained soils for crops like maize and tea.
12. Availability of rainfall e.g. heavy rainfall for coffee.
PROBLAEMS FACING THE SUB REGION FARMERS
1. Lack of markets (national and international).
2. Low prices on the world market.
3. Drought especially in the southern part of Africa.
4. Unreliable rainfall due to variations.
5. Pests and disease out breaks e.g. maize stalk borer and corridor disease.
6. Lack of capital e.g. to purchase equipment.
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7. Inadequate technical know-how.
8. Scarcity of land in some countries e.g. Zimbabwe.
GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO DEVELOP AND INCREASE AGRICULTURE
1. Construction of dams e.g. mazoe dam to increase production of citrus fruits.
2. Establishment of agricultural schemes to educate farmers.
3. Increased scientific research to improve seed varieties.
4. Control of diseases and pests e.g. through increased veterinary services and dipping of animals. 5. Provision of loans to farmers through credit banks.
6. Provision of inputs e.g. fertilizers.
Most of the agricultural produce is exported within the region and outside e.g. tea and coffee exported to Europe and USA.

Author: C.I. Chilukusha (Mrs), Munali Girls School 2008.
For the iSchool Project www.ischool.zm.

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C.I. Chilukusha (Mrs)