Michael Njobvu | May 7, 2026
News Brief
In Batoka, Zambia, farmers are improving soil fertility using natural methods shared through the Musemo Wamulimi radio program on Byta FM, supported by MISA Zambia and Farm Radio International. Practices include composting, crop rotation, intercropping, tree planting, and using anthill soil. These approaches are reducing reliance on costly chemical fertilizer while improving yields and food security. Farmers like Sedcal Mutinta report better harvests after adopting these methods, while others prefer compost manure, which is more sustainable and available year-round.
In Batoka community, Zambia, farmers can be seen walking to their fields carrying hoes, shovels, and sometimes sacks filled with soil, manure, or plant materials. Unlike in the past, when most farmers depended entirely on chemical fertilizer, many households are now using natural methods to improve their soil. In several fields, trees are growing between crops, while in others, farmers are digging anthills, spreading manure, or planting different crops in the same field.
These changes did not happen overnight. But a radio program on air at Byta FM since 2023 has shared information about practical methods such as crop rotation, use of manure, tree planting, intercropping, and the use of anthill soil to return nutrients to the land. These practices are helping farmers reduce production costs, improve yields, and adapt to climate change using resources that are already available in their environment.
The program is called Musemo Wamulimi and it is supported by MISA Zambia and Farm Radio International as part of the On Air for Gender-inclusive Nature-based Solutions project.
Sedcal Mutinta is one farmer using anthills to improve his soil. The soil from anthills can be rich in nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. It can enhance soil structure and water retention, helping crops grow well even without fertilizer, although Mr. Mutinta explains that the method works better when there is enough rainfall.
Mr. Mutinta adds that farmers are also using cow dung and composted crop residues to improve soil fertility.
He says he learned the importance of using anthill soil from his father, but he only began using the method seriously after hearing about it again on the radio. He explains that he started with a small portion of his field, and after seeing good results, he decided to continue using the method every season.
He says the work requires effort because digging anthills and carrying the soil is difficult, but the results are worth it because the crops grow well even when fertilizer is not used. With the help of his family, he collected the soil using simple tools and transported it to the field using a wheelbarrow before he was able to buy better equipment. Farmers are experimenting with both depositing the anthill soils in rows and spreading it evenly and thinly across fields.
It is best to select anthills that have some vegetation in the form of grasses or small trees around to confirm that they are rich in nutrients.
After applying the method for several seasons, his harvest improved so much that Mr. Mutinta was able to sell maize to the Food Reserve Agency and use the income to buy livestock and build a better house for his family. He explained that the biggest benefit is that his family now has enough food, and he no longer worries about how to provide for his household.
He also said the practice helped him reduce dependency on chemical fertilizer, which has saved money and made farming more affordable.
Using anthill soil takes advantage of an otherwise overlooked resource, although it is not always available. That is why Clifford Machona, from Simunzele, prefers composted manure, made from grass, leaves, and animal dung. He explains that anthill soil can run out, but compost can be made every year, making it more sustainable for the community.
Composted manure may also be less labour-intensive than moving large quantities of anthill soil. Euness Machona says she first used anthill soil but later switched to composted manure because it requires less labour and can be prepared throughout the year. She explained that she has been a widow for many years and has to support her children alone, but after learning how to make her own manure through the radio program on Byta FM, she reduced the money spent on fertilizer and managed to improve her harvest. With the income she earned, she was able to buy a motorbike and support her children’s education.
Composted manure can be made with crop residues like maize stalks, as well as leaves and animal dung, all of which are readily available to farmers. Its production can also be labour-intensive as it must be regularly turned.
With a variety of techniques and the support of farmer radio programs, farmers from Simunzele, Batoka, and other communities in Zambia are improving their soil fertility in the face of increasing fertilizer prices and unpredictable rainfall.
