Southern Province is one of the last places in Zambia where the rains start. Back in September the rains had already begun in Northwest Province. Here they have yet to officially begin. Amazing how such a small country can have such varying climates within.
As Zambia is a country with a rainy and dry season - the rainy season is the main growing season like our summers in the States.
With the planting time just around the corner, farmers are beginning to prepare. Many meetings are being held in order to secure fertilizer and seed. Because of some changes last year here in Zambia, some farmers have yet to be paid for their maize sold in August. Without being paid, some farmers cannot buy seed.
Fertilizer is highly subsidized, so cooperatives and other associations are diligently working in order to ensure that their fertilizer arrives before or with the rain. Without fertilizer the farmers cannot plant.
Not only are the inputs important, but the fields need to be ready. Some villagers are able to use a tractor and rip the land. Others use ox and plow to turn the soil. And even still some will use a hoe and break ground by hand.
When the rains truly start, it will be every person in the field. Men and women alike will maneuver the plow across the land or walk and drop seed and fertilizer into the ground by hand.
The village will be bustling with activity to ensure the maize, ground nuts, potatoes, sunflowers and other crops are healthy and growing well by Christmas.
Planting and other field work will be done so differently then in the States. I'm looking forward to the rains as well as the green landscape which will follow! It'll be an exciting time and learning experience for sure!
