AKTC Hosts the Bayer Field Day Event

Transferring sustainable agricultural knowledge and farming techniques to Zambia’s farming community remains at the topmost agenda of the Zambian-German Agricultural Knowledge and Training Centre (AKTC) project, implemented by GOPA AFC. AKTC was delighted to host Bayer’s field day which aimed at providing farmers and stakeholders with insights into agricultural innovations while fostering knowledge exchange among industry experts, AKTC representatives and local farmers. The event, organized by Bayer Crop Science on the premises of the AKTC, served as a platform to showcase agricultural innovations and sustainable farming practices.  

The field day was graced by several distinguished guests, including Bayer CEO Mr. Bill Anderson , Bayer Africa Head Ms. Debra Mallowah , AKTC Team Leader Mr. Helmut Anschuetz , Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (GART) Executive Director Dr. Martin Muyunda, and representatives from the Provincial Agricultural Coordinating Office. Their presence underscored the significance of the event in strengthening partnerships and promoting sustainable agricultural advancements in Zambia.

Apart from creating a favourable platform for farmer and stakeholder engagements, the event was utilized to introduce advanced hybrid maize seed varieties and to promote climate-smart agricultural solutions. Throughout the day, demonstrations on best agronomic practices were offered, aimed at enhancing production and productivity and thereby promoting resilience in unpredictable climatic conditions.   

Interesting to note is that the event took place a day before the grand opening of Bayer’s Itaba maize seed processing plantestablished in Kabwe, central Zambia, about 70 km north of the AKTC project. The Itabamaize seed facility is one of Germany’s largest private investments initiatives in the country.

In addition AKTC showcased several of its ongoing initiatives aligned with regenerative and sustainable agriculture through its recently established RAINES(Regenerative Agriculture for Improved Nutrition and Environmental Sustainability) project. Among the key demonstrations were family plots comparing yield differences based on varying planting dates, using the Pfumvudza farming method. It addresses the critical issue of climate resilience and food security at household level through its adaptive farming techniques that promote maximum water retention using mulch and minimum soil disturbance among others.  Additionally, AKTC highlighted the significance of cover crops, such as sorghum, pearl millet, sunflower, and sun hemp, in improving soil health and productivity. Another important feature was syntropic farming, a sustainable approach integrating biodiversity and ecosystem restoration to enhance agricultural resilience.

The event also provided a platform to demonstrate different cropping systems, including intercropping, crop rotation, and monocropping, illustrating their benefits for soil fertility and long-term sustainability. AKTC further took the opportunity to present its extensive training programs designed to equip farmers with practical knowledge and skills necessary for improving their farming techniques. 

The field day event proved to be a success highlighting the synergies between industry, training and research institutions in advancing agricultural development. It not only increased farmer awareness of regenerative agricultural principles but also facilitated discussions on innovative solutions for sustainable farming. The engagement between industry experts and farmers encouraged valuable knowledge-sharing, strengthening AKTC’s role as a centre for agricultural knowledge exchange, training and research.