Advancements in science and technology particularly in the nuclear sphere could prove key in exploiting this potential and achieving sustainable growth to the point where the industry can rival mining in terms of exports and GDP contribution.
The ministry, through the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), is currently running multiple research projects in various fields with a collective objective of providing a high quality, appropriate and cost-effective service to farmers in generating and adapting crop, soil and plant protection technologies. Though, a lot of progress has been made, there remains much more to be done in terms of advancing agriculture using science and technology.
“Zambia recently got on the nuclear technology train when it signed an agreement with Russia’s ROSTOM to develop a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in Lusaka”.
Aside from its large energy potential, nuclear science has a place in agriculture and environmental protection. Over the years, techniques derived
from atomic science have been used in soil conservation and agricultural development in many countries across the globe. For example, nuclear technology can be used to detect excessive pesticide and/or other potentially harmful chemical residues in food as well as combat agro-pests and environmental degradation.
EFFECTIVE PEST CONTROL
Pests pose a serious threat to agricultural production. The diseases they spread to crops can reduce the potential yield by as much as 40% or wipe out the whole crop in severe cases leading to millions of dollars in losses. Spraying pesticides can have adverse effects on the environment and often leaves toxic residue on the plants and animals that come into contact with them. Additionally, greater quantities of pesticide are required to achieve the same result as the insects develop a resistance to certain insecticides making the exercise costlier over time.
Australia’s US$600 million a year fruit trade often suffered massive losses due to fruit fly infestations. However, the country has been able to keep the invasive insects under control by use of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). SIT uses nuclear radiation to sterilise millions of laboratory reared fruit flies which are then released in the affected region to mate with the wild flies. Because the irradiated flies cannot produce off spring to replenish the numbers, the overall population starts to decline as members die off. The irradiated insects are harmless to humans and animals from a radioactive perspective in that the treatment only affects their ability to reproduce and does not make them radioactive.
In certain parts of Zambia, we see a significant prevalence of Tsetse flies which greatly hinders livestock production. The flies spread an illness known as Human Animal Trypanosomiasis (HAT) which aside from reducing productivity can be fatal to both animals and people.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that HAT (sleeping sickness) kills over 3 million animals in sub-Saharan Africa annually, causing over US$4 billion in losses.
With the introduction of nuclear research in Zambia, SIT could be a viable lasting solution to the nation’s Tsetse fly problem thereby allowing the livestock sector to flourish.
TOUGHER CROPS
Zambia’s Agriculture ministry through ZARI continues to work tirelessly to develop crop varieties that are stable, high yielding, have good storability with acceptable quality and high nutrition amid increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and growing demand for local farm produce both within and across the borders.
The focus areas of the ongoing research have been to develop varieties that are not only pest and disease resistant but can also withstand adverse conditions such as drought or high soil acidity.
In Ghana, Nuclear radiation was used to change the genetics of the cocoa plant to create a variety that is more resistant to disease. On this evidence, atomic science would certainly serve to supplement ZARI’s efforts and speed up the realisation of the institution’s overall goal of developing and adapting appropriate crop varieties and agronomic technologies for all categories of farmers across the country.
Further, radiation can also be used post-harvest to destroy microorganisms and prolong the produce’s shelf life while also meeting international hygiene standards and unlock export opportunities.
The advantage we get from using nuclear radiation in treating harvested products is that there are negligible changes caused to the products in terms of appearance, taste and nutritional value compared to regular preservation methods. The irradiated food does not become radioactive and is safe to eat immediately after the treatment much in the same way food prepared in a domestic microwave oven is harmless despite being literally cooked by radiation.
PERFECTING SOIL CONSERVATION
Over 75 billion tonnes of soil get eroded from global agricultural systems each year. Typically, soil erosion affects mainly the top soil which is generally where most crops get their nutrients and water. Advancements in atomic technology have enabled scientists to develop ways to track and effectively mitigate the rate and scale of soil erosion in any given region. In Morocco for instance, nearly half of the total land area suffers from some form of erosion due to different factors among them deforestation resulting in over 100million tonnes in annual soil losses.
Zambia on average loses about 300,000 hectares of forests per year. Erratic rainfall patterns experienced in recent years characterised by long dry spells followed by heavy downpours have combined with the shrinking vegetation to create new erosion prone areas in the country. The increased erosion could lead to high siltation of hydro-electric reservoirs – making them hold less water thus negatively affecting electricity production in the medium to long term.
Morocco’s scientists at the National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Science and Techniques (CNESTEN), the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) and the National Centre for Forestry Research (CNRF) with help from International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] and FAO developed a way to identify erosion prone regions and test the efficacy of counter erosion measures employed in affected areas. The strategies have reduced soil losses by as much as 40% to 60% in some areas while also lowering the amount of sediment ending up in water reservoirs.
By accurately identifying erosion hotspots as well as the average magnitude of the losses, Zambia could develop customised soil conservation methods to protect our farmers from erosion.
Nuclear isotopes can also be used to measure the soil’s water and nutrient storage capacity as well as fertiliser and pesticide waste – information farmers can use to ensure they use inputs efficiently. This method proved highly successful in Benin when 14,000 maize and soybean farmers reported an increase in seasonal yields after it was introduced.
With the coming of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology, Zambia is well poised to join over 70 countries that have partnered with FAO and IAEA in using nuclear science to advance its food safety and grow its agricultural sector thereby potentially generating billions of dollars in income and creating thousands of jobs. Zambia’s long anticipated nuclear project could be a major turning point in the country’s economic landscape. Once at full operation, it could help Zambia develop the tools it needs to turn itself into a regional food basket through increased production. Local farmers could finally take full control of their production as opposed to being at nature’s mercy.
Calvin Kakoma Kaleyi is Editor and Media & Public Relations Manager at the Zambia National Farmers Union.
Trying to fly before you can even walk properly. Just concentrate on food security and leave nuclear aspirations to Kim Jong and his friends.
Great article … let’s roll
The Nuclear plants are “Build–operate–Own” project whereby the Russians will finance, design, construct, own, and operate the power plants.
– All employees will be a Russian
– All parts will be manufactured in Russia
– All revenue will be channeled out to Russia
Zambians role will be to consume the electricity & bare the brunt of a Chernobyl or Fukushima when things go wrong. The whole world is shutting down nuclear plants. Imwe that’s when you want to experiment with it.
Batoka gorge & Luapula river have plenty sites for mega hydro power stations. The $23 Billion PF-Kaloba should have been used to tap these Hydro sites, not over-inflated roads which only last 3 years.
So some Editor and Media & Public Relations Manager at the Zambia National Farmers Union has now turned into a Nuclear energy Engineer? This is why our country cannot move forward. We have every Jim and jack trying to advise the country on things and technology they don’t understand even a bit and whose consequences they cannot contain. Just stick to what you know which is writing about farming. Even the more advanced countries in Africa don’t have nuclear plants and Zambia which fails to handle Cholera wants to start running nuclear plants? This is the biggest joke. You will end up killing people. It will be a genocide in Chongwe. And the people of Chongwe should stand their ground and not allow a genocide against themselves.
It will make Zambia a dumping place for nuclear waste……..and than what?????????????
Really laughable…who is this chubby boy again?? I think we need to spend ACC to ZNFU again to see how they are living nowadays.
Basic agricultural technologies are not fully adapted/adopted and you already start talking about some technology which has no local expertise! All academic than hands on applicable technologies leaving the main producers in the agriculture sector out of the discussion! Preservation of the little being harvested to avoid losses and value addition are still major challenges yet sights are being set on nuclear technology! A sign of ever remaining mentally enslaved to developed country’s agendas than being methodical in approaching locally raising issues!
North Clear are not food basket for Asia.
This is a lame argument- how will this make Zambia a food basket? has it made North Korea, Iran, Israel (even Russia) etc… into food baskets?
Empirical, and sound arguments/suggestions is what can develop Zambia. Not these kind of paid up analysts… True patriots would surely argue that developing the Solar sector in Zambia is probably the best option (as we have this resource in abundance) that we can use for ample energy availabilities, and we can also develop it further to cover the agri- sector too.
Nuclear sucks and not in Zambia’s best interest!
Atase at good article GO ON DREAMING YOUNG MAN, Ichalo tachakakumfwe.
Issues of production are a governance issue, not a technology issue. If your governance sucks what will is you will be duped into becoming the dumping ground for nuclear waste and your perennial corrupt leadership will simply relocate to safer climes. Awe mwe…
Any id.iot can write about Nuclear including a mere journalist with no idea what nuclear waste can do to a country. 1 mili-gram of polonium 210 can kill a 100thousand plus people.
If you can neglect to channel sewer which is visible or standing water in Lusaka, why would you want to play with an invisible product that is lethal?
The link with nuclear technology and agriculture is rather tenuous I think and hardly justifies a whole industry. Probably the advantages that do exist can be achieved in partnership with western countries. As for energy production, bear in mind that nuclear power has not been profitable anywhere – it has always been heavily subsidised by rich western governments using public money. Add to that the problem of dealing with nuclear waste that can be radioactive for thousands of years… I think clean renewables are a much safer bet for Zambia.
There is no link between nuclear technology and food production. Zambia is really messed up with these lot. Nuclear reactors use prodigious amount of water for cooling. Zambia claims to experience droughts from year to year. How are going to cool the reactors. May be by 16 million Zambians urinating in Kafue river!
Maloza you are very right, the nuclear project will not make any Zambian rich apart from few individuals. Why are we not rich with the COPPER that we already have? All the copper is taken out and no money is coming back, we are only remaining with vimigodi. Stop dreaming about something that you do not even own. Whatever money will be made, is meant for Russians but atomic waste you will keep. It is so sad that people talk about money without thinking much about long term consequences.
I have come to the conclusion that it is ok to dream……
BA B.R MUMBA BIGGIE…I GUESS YOU HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH ZAMBIA AND ITS PROBLEMS.
IF YOU HAD A MOMENT TO WORK IN ZAMBIA, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT ONLY GAP CREATING POVERTY IS MANAGEMENT FAILURE. ISABI UKUBOLA LITAMPILA KUMUTWE.
WE HAVE LEADERS WHO AINT TESTED AT ANY LEVEL…FROM THE EAGLE HIMSELF TO CLEANER. WE MUST ABANDON OUR MODE OF DEMOCRACY AND BRING INN SELECTED DEMOCRACY. GOING NUCLEAR NOT SOLUTION ENOUGH IF FUNDAMENTALS ON GROUND REMAIN THE SAME.
WAIT AND SEE!!!!!!!
The Japanese model of nuclear reactors is what Zambia should get, noti Russia’s. Chinobyl kaili it exploded kikikiki
Fukushima?