As many communities are struggling to access fertilizers because of higher prices a farmer in Nsanje is applying a mixture of urine and other substances as fertilizer which has proved effective and is producing bumper harvest.
The farmer Austin Forty from Therere village said after failing to get fertilizers because of the prices he decided to improvise the chemicals by using the locally available resources.
Speaking to ProjectM, Forty said he collects his own urine amounting to ten liters, 25 kilograms of bats wastes (droppings), ten kilograms of ash and mix it with water.
“ The mixture is left to decompose for about four to five weeks before applying it to gardens which is successful,” he said.
According to the farmer, he started this initiative in the last growing season which has proved to be very effective.
Forty also said he has taken this initiative which does not require huge amount of money to purchase the materials as fertilizers.
He added that the communities around his gardens and the villages are adopting this initiative as it serves money.
Asked if he has passion of passing the initiative to other people, Forty said he has been approached by many people in around the area.
“ Those who have interest are free to come forward so that I can teach them how to make simple fertilizer which has proved to be successful,” he said.
Dickson Bisenti said he has already approached Forty so that he can learn the initiative which is simple.
He said he is impressed with the healthiness of his maize, tomato, and onion.
“ It is my wish to apply this improvised fertilizer this coming growing season,” said Bisenti.
