The Department of Mechanisation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development has come up with machinery to assist farmers practising conservation agriculture.

The equipment is expected to be commercially available during the forth coming summer cropping season.

Speaking at the Cluster Agricultural Development Services conservation agriculture field day in Uzumba on Tuesday, the department of mechanisation district head, Mr Isheunesu Mugwagwa said farmers practicing conservation agriculture would now be able to use machinery thereby making the work lighter.

“We should be moving with time. You used to make planting stations manually using hoes but you will soon be able to use direct seeders and ripper ties,” he said.

Mr Mugwagwa said the equipment was locally available and some of the local dealers were now making the equipment and machinery.

He said this would also help farmers to practice the system over a large piece of land and even commercial farmers can adopt conservation agriculture.

Mr Mugwaga urged farmers in Uzumba to make contours in the fields to conserve the soil and moisture.

“Contours are not bad but beneficial.

“Dead contours and infiltration pits are useful for capturing running water which can later be used during dry periods,” he said.