Farming in Zambia: How we make compost out in the field 

I have two labor saving suggestions for you, Number one involves the mixing of compost. The best way to aerate, blend and move compost is with a long handled pitchfork. This is the kind of pitchfork that one would use for collecting hay. It will have 5 to 7 thin steel rods that easily slide between the layers of organic material. When a forkful of material is lifted, some will fall away, the entire lift will be aerated and the process happens in one movement. The second worker uses a rounded shovel to collect and move the loose material to the new pile. Both workers move in a circular pattern around the pile they are moving so they are always taking material from a new spot and never in each others way. The second suggestion is loading your drop side trucks. Always load the trucks from the side. Do not throw material onto the tailgate. Leave the tailgate in the raised position. This access gives the two loaders a broader target so they are not in each others way. Also, it takes less energy because they do not have to throw new material up and over the pile of material that has collected on the tailgate. It is also useful for workers to change tools and positions regularly so they give some variety to the muscles they are using and the way in which their muscles are working. When workers are doing manual labor. it is always useful to stand back and observe. Anything that can be done to minimize the fatigue of repetitive motion will make the workers happier and the company more profitable. I hope you find this useful. Both suggestions come from personal experience doing manual labor in the field. Your produce is beautiful! You should be very proud. All the best

Thank you, am still doing backyard farming and I can still remember my time in the classroom lecturers

Agriculture is scientific.It is the way to go in Africa.You are on the correct path to liberate Africa from poverty.

This is the first video am watching from this channel. I think it's amazing. Keep it up

I have learnt so much from your videos. Thank you so much.

Keep going and keep practicing is indeed the word of the day. thank you

Thank you for the great insight each time I watch your channel. You're a great teacher, I've learned a lot from you and strongly motivated to farm once am back to Nigeria. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much Mr folotiya for the knowledge we really appreciate it is really of help to us

Once again a brilliant video. I am not a farmer but growing food in my yard. It cost me an arm and a leg to amend my soil. Living in the desert in Namibia there’s that. I cannot imagine doing everything “organic” on a scale you do it. Your produce looks fabulous. Neighborly greetings 😊.

I absolutely love this video and technically you’ve just given me the process for my business. In Kenya we’re big on manure and not compost or Vermiculture…i have a farm with animals and plants. Also love your explanation for balancing compost and synthetic fertilizer, you are running a business and should make the best possible decision. Don’t let anyone bring you pan’gang’a … you have a business to operate. Don’t use that approach myself but you have 100% reason to be profitable.

Another banger. I would love to visit your farm and spend a day with everyone over there.

So simplified but so informative bwana Folotiya... Coming at a right time❤

Hi from Paris, Thank you so much for your video! I also make compost but in a different way inspired by the ancestral method (700 years) : African Dark Earths Enjoy your day!👋🏾🌱

I love what u do brother and thanks for the information always, God bless

Very good stuff. I appreciate all the knowledge ive gained from your videos.

Thanks Mondo Farm's great video.

You are very much appreciated for sharing such important guidances Keep it up!

Thanks for sharing. Well presented and very informative.

Your cool sir with your informations i like it hope to use in my farm too. Kenya

What an invaluable content, Thanks for the great job!!

Thank you for sharing Mr Chisha

Educative video.

Looking forward to vist the mondo farms

Congratulations. Thank you very much

Nice 👍🏾

Congratulations ! ☀

Well. Done. And. I. Will. Try. At. My. Back. Yard. Mary. From. Nigeria. Thanks

Very good instructional video. Loved it. How far apart do you space those sweet peppers?

Good vibes uncle.

I think your fertilizer uses are perfect. The compost will continue to add to the soil for several years after applying. My only questions revolve around labor costs. In the videos i see lots of manual labor.

Hey there, I have been following your channel for a while and learnt a lot. I’d like to buy grains from Zambia. Please may you inform me on how the Zambian market works. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

You may try getting a few rabbits. Their manure is cold and will not burn plants at any stage of plant growth. They have the highest npk of all farm animals. They can eat some things from your garden to maintain them. Thanks for sharing. Your soil looks so different in color from mine here in the US. It's so interesting to see the productivity that you are able to garner from it by God's grace! May God keep you and your family, workers and their families.

I love this video just in a making my own compost too hot compost the best though it’s full of Labour ❤❤

I think the term "composted manure" is supposed to refer to manure that's been let to rot, possibly with additives. I, too, cringe when I hear certain references to compost. My mother (just as I am) is from the UK originally, and the term "compost" there can refer to potting soil, which is so bizarre! Glad to see you're still doing okay. As you indirectly but clearly state, a pragmatic approach to synthetic fertilizers and crop protectants is necessary when you are putting vegetables on other people's tables for profit and you do not have the benefit of an organic value chain to pay for the extra work required. A fully organic approach can be interesting to try in a distant set of paddocks you aren't relying on for your daily bread, but shouldn't be gone into all the way until you've worked out the kinks, or in fact ever if you don't necessarily want to. Personally, my approach (as just a gardener) will probably be organic except for fertilizers because I'm a devout coward and don't like to get too involved in chemicals that could poison me, and also don't mind feeding the ravens a bit. All this reminds me I must go to my back garden again and try to right the tree I replanted that fell over, as well as scythe my lawn down, gather straw (as it's everywhere and I need to get the problem under control) and plant up more maize. It's still too early, but the cultivar of maize I have is claimed to be hardy enough to hold up to some frost. I cannot imagine there is much frost in Zambia (which would also prevent being able to cultivate such northern grains as cereal rye (Secale cereale), unless you had a spring variety that doesn't require chill hours)? Is soil testing economically available there? It may help you make fertilizer decisions based on the available nitrogen in the soil or soil/compost mixture - a common yield issue some farms in the developed world have with grains is lodging, from over-manuring resulting in a nitrogen excess (which is similar to if you would apply an excess of ammonium sulfate or nitrate over a long enough timespan to not result in fertilizer burn) which results in the stalk growing too long and leggy and falling over. The compost colour confusion is quite a thing. Before watching the section, the rationale behind it is that with more nitrogen, the rot is supposed to progress faster and in a way that is more beneficial. Then they put the nitrogenous heavy inputs under "greens" and the carbon-heavy inputs under "browns". (Upon watching, I discover you already covered this) For what it is, ammonium sulfate, a nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer, or ammonium nitrate, a nitrogen fertilizer, would constitute a "green" - although most gardening advocates of composting do not recommend using synthetic fertilizers in compost (which is bizarre as it would work). If you sell fodder to confinements or other animal-heavy operations that need fodder, you might consider asking them if they can supply you with manure from their animals? (There are options that exist for gardens only to be used for the gardener's consumption - I will not cover these in my commentary but I am sure you can imagine) A thermometer with a long probe that goes up to 100°C can show you how hot the compost pile gets if you ever want to find out. Offtopic, I'm sure, but I wonder if Coffea arabica would grow well there, to use as a conversation piece and to quench the coffee-thirst of your employees. However, I suspect it would need armed guards to avoid theft, as a high value product (in Canada, a kilogram of roasted coffee seeds can sell for approximately $25).

Coming to join you brothers

You have really built me ba chisha

Great looking farm. I have the opposite to contend with, clay soil :P Have you considered using compost tea as part of your compost mixing process? I find it gives a great bacteria booster to help the process get going. You could leave a barrel stewing away next to the compost piles.

infant you lectures inspire always to visit you and Panuka in Zambia...... Ghanaians about to loose a brother to Zambians... #Visit_is_Expected_Soon

I love your channel, from Namibia

How about a training request at yo farms

hi thank you a lot , please i want to know are you using water once at every month you turn your compost? or we have to put water every day?

Greetings a question would it be easier to turn the compose with a tiller to save time and labour?

Ba chisha.......what do you think of the "compost" we find another saw mills? The rotten sawdust, can it be used?

Why do not cover the heaps of the compost when you are making? Am Ndagga Livingston from Uganda

Is is compost better done in a shade with roof or open field where rain can beat?

Because your weather is so hot, the sun beats down your soil and dries it out easily. If you can, make a mulch with whatever you can get your hands on like straw cardboard perhaps leaves from trees like banana or plantain, that can help to keep your soil protected from the strong rays of the strong rays of the sun. If you have not already, look into permaculture, solutions for keeping the soil moist.

Should i be worried about pests in the compost?

Ba chisha.....whats your major plant?

Just one thing with the cost of fertilizer skyrocketing, you might want to start looking at profit per acre rather than total revenue and crop yields. Reducing the need for chemicals will benefit you and your business in the long run, otherwise spot on. If your input costs are manageable then keep on growing on.

insects pest destroy all my farm Can you please show me what I can fight with I am far away in somalia Thank you

It can go up to 60 degree centigrade