ENERGY IN ZAMBIA AND THE SUB-REGION

Grade 10-12 Geography

ENERGY IN ZAMBIA AND THE SUB-REGION

ZAMBIA

TYPES OF ENERGY IN ZAMBIA

BIOGASS

This is energy produced from the organic (plant or animal) matter.

(a) CHARCOAL

 This is carbon which remains as a result of heating wood to a very high

temperature.
 It is Black and burns without producing a great deal of smoke.
 Zambians charcoal is produced mainly by the traditional method.
 Logs are pilled and covered with a layer of grass and then a layer of soil.
 The logs are then burnt inside producing the charcoal.
 Only 8% of total weight of wood is produced.

(b) WOOD

 This is basically used as fuel wood for cooking and heating.

 Used by the majority of Zambians.

(c) DRAFT POWER

 This is the use of animals to drive machinery e.g. ploughs and ox-carts.
 Animals used are usually cattle and horses especially in the southern province.

(d) BIOMASS ENERGY

This is energy used on the flood plains of the Western Province of Zambia where cow
dung is used as a fuel.

COAL
 Can be manufactured into coke used in smelting of minerals e.g. copper.
 Coal seems occur in Zambezi and Luangwa Valley.
 Exploitation started in 1966 at Nkandabwe mine.
 The coal was mined by open pit.
 Transportation to Batoka was by rail & roads.
 Due to flooding the mine was closed in 1968.
 New deposits are late found at the current Mamba mine, Siankandobo, 36km
from

Nkandabwe.

 The type of coal mined is Bituminous.

 Mining is currently done by Mamba collieries.
 Coal is mainly used as a supplement to HEP.
 Can be a better substitute to fuel wood i.e. as a domestic fuel for cooking and
heating.

PETROLEUM

 Zambia imports crude oil from the Arab world e.g. Iran.
 Petroleum is transported by pipeline from Dar-Es –Salaam to Ndola.
 The pipeline is manned by Tazama which was built in 1966.
 NOSCO is the pipeline terminal in Ndola.
 The crude oil is refined at INDENI, Refinery in Ndola.
 Indeni started operating in1973.
 Refined products include petrol, diesel, kerosene, etc, including Bitumen.
 Indeni is currently owned by the governments of Italy and Zambia.
 Petroleum products are used in cars, machinery locomotives, and thermal power
stations.

SOLAR

 This involves the use of the sun’s rays.

 The rays can be used to produce heat directly or to charge photo-voltaic cells
(batteries) which can later produce electricity.
 These batteries can be used to produce electricity in the absence of the sun’s
rays.
 Solar energy is used to heat water, cooking, lighting etc.
 Most efficient in small scale production of electricity e.g. rural areas-schools,
clinics etc.
WIND

 This involves the use of wind to drive a propeller which in turn drives the
generator e.g. use of wind mill.
 The wind speed must exceed 15km/h to be used.
 Though not much reliable it is free renewable and causes no environmental
problems.
 Mostly used in farm lands.

GEOTHERMAL

 This is electricity generated from hot water or steam from rocks in the earth’s
crust i.e. hot springs, geysers.
 Steam rises naturally and is tapped in drilled wells used to turn turbines which
form generators produce electricity.
 This has not been developed or fully exploited though there are a lot of hot
springs e.g. in Northern Province, Southern Province, Copper belt.

HEP

 This is electricity produced using water, dropped from a great height, though
pipes called Penstocks.
 This water turns the turbines which drive the dynamos which generate electricity.
 The height of water or the head of water can be obtained from a natural waterfall
or an artificial high dam.
 In Zambia, HEP stations are at Kariba, Kafue Gorge, Mosio-o-tunya, Lusiwasi,
Chishinga and Lunzuwa in Mbala, Musonda falls.
 Zambia has a lot of untapped waterfalls which could be used for HEP.
 HEP in Zambia is produced and distributed by ZESCO which was formed in
1970. This includes transmission.
 Former ZCCM power is manned by Copper belt Energy.

LOCATION FACTORS FOR AN HEP STATION.

1. a) Steep gradient or slope with hard rocks.

2. b) Natural rapids, waterfalls or dam.
3. c) A steady flow of water (Considerable volume).
4. d) Heavy capital outlay
5. e) Narrow gorge for artificial damming.

 
ENERGY REGULATION BOARD (ERB)

Monitors, production; and distribution of all forms of energy in Zambia.

The following are the HEP operating stations with their installed capacities:-

1. a) Kafue Gorge Power Station -900 mw

2. b) Kariba North Bank P.S. – 600 mw
3. c) Victoria Falls P.S. – 108 mw
4. d) Isolated Hydro and Diesel. – 32 mw

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

LOCAL

 Mining
 Residential
 Commercial
 Social services

Zambia consumes 80% of the power produced.

ZAMBIA’S EXPORT MARKET.

 Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Democratic Republic of

Congo.

FUTURE HEP STATIONS

(1) Mpata Gorge

 30km from confluence of Luangwa and Zambezi Rivers.

 Has potential dam sites in the natural narrow gorge 4km section of the main
gorge

(2) Devils Gorge

 At the western end of Kariba Lake – 20km away.

 Would need a dam of 180 metres high.

(3) Batoka Gorge

 Two Schemes proposed i.e. Batoka gorge with or without a storage dam at
Katombora

where the Zambezi passes through/over rapids

 Would need a Barrage of 9 metres high.

(4) Ngonye Falls

 A storage reservoir under construction at Nangweshi.

 Would need a barrage across Mbeta Island.

(5) Mumbotuta Gorge

 Would need a dam 100m at Mkuku to regulate the river flow from lake bangweulu
and the swampy area .

(6) Mambilima Falls

 Development would require co-operation with Zaire.

(7) Extension to kariba

 Between kafue gorge and kariba

 Increased production by 300mw

(8) Kafue lower

 Future development would increase production to 2,350 mw from the current 900
mw.

OPERATING H.E.P STATION

(1) MULUNGUSHI H.E.P

 First station to produce H.E.P in 1925.

 It was meant to supply power to Kabwe lead and zinc mines.
 Fed by another power station (lusemfwa) from mita hills dam.

(2) Victoria falls H.E.P

 started in 1938 to supply power to Livingstone and western province e.g. Mongu ,
Sesheke

(3) Kafue H.E.P station

 Started in 1972
 The plant consists of Itezhi- tezhi dam, a storage and regulatory reservoir, main
dam for the head race tunnel and powerhouse at Kafue gorge.
 The head race tunnel brings the water from the dam to the powerhouse.
 The power house is fed with 6 penstocks dropping the water at a height of 360m.
It also contains 6 turbo –generators producing 150 mw.

(4) Kariba H.E.P station – Check the notes on sub region notes.

ENERGY – SUB REGION

KARIBA H.E.P STATION

This is shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.

LOCATION FACTORS

 This multipurpose dam used for H.E.P, flood controls, irrigation (Nakambala).
Fishing and tourism ,to both Zambia and Zimbabwe location include;
 It’s narrow enough to be demand in mountainous areas along the Zambezi.
 The flow of the Zambezi was great enough which provided an excellent constant
head of water
 There was high demand from both Zambia and Zimbabwe hence construction of
Kariba north and south banks.

OPERATION

 Water from the lake through tunnels cuts in the lock, to drop down and turn the
turbines.
 The turbines provide the power to drive generators.
 A second power house of south bank was completed in 1972 on the north bank.
 South bank carters for Zimbabwe while North bank carters for Zambia: Lusaka,
Kitwe etc
 The wall is 117 meters high and 600 meters long and took three years to build.
 It has a total of 6 (six) generators each producing 600 mega watts.
 The transmission is made possible, by using a transmission grid; with lines
linking all parallel stations to meet the linkage power.

CABORA BASSA DAM

Location

 This dam has been built at the downstream end of Quebrabasa, gorge in
Mozambique, along the Zambezi River

Location Factors

 Gorge sides are hard resistant rock which is able to support the side foundation
of the dam.
 The gorge is narrow and was easy to dam.
 The Zambezi River produces the Head of water which is constant and steady.
 High demand from South Africa, local industries and homes in Mozambique.
 The dam was started in 1969
 First phase finished in march 1975
 It is 160 m high and 300 m long arch dam.
 It has a man-made lake behind stretching over 300 km upstream.
 It produces 200 megawatts.
 It has 5 (five) 408 megawatt generators.
 It has a north Bank Power Station, also providing 2000 megawatts.
 The dam is owned by Portugal (80%) and Mozambique (20%).

IMPORTANCE OF DAM CONSTRUCTION

 Power produced is used in industries e.g. copper belt in Zambia, aluminum

Industry and iron and steel near moatize, Mozambique
 Used in homes for lighting, heating etc
 Dam construction brings agricultural benefits – through irrigation e.g. Nakambala
in Zambia.
 Dams are used to control floods
 Dams also improve on Navigation
 The man-made lakes are used for fishing e.g. Lake Kariba
 Tourist attraction e.g. spill way opening

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAMS

 Leads to displacement of people especially the area that flood into an artificial
lake, hence, the people are resettled.
 Dam construction leads to flooding.
 Can lead to breading grounds for mosquitoes and disease out breaks.
 Downstream supply of water is reduced.

Farming in Zambia and The Sub-Region

FARMING IN ZAMBIA AND THE SUB-REGION

ZAMBIA

1. LAND TENURE

This is the process of acquiring and possessing of land by individuals. There are four
types of land tenure in Zambia namely:

1. TRADITIONAL LAND

This is land controlled by traditional chiefs on behalf of the people. Individuals or

families have the right to use the land but not to sell it. This land is inherited according
to existing customary law.

2. FREE HOLD

This is reserve land especially on the unproductive land. Mostly used as collateral
before independence.

3. STATELAND

This is the acquisition and control of land by the president in public interest. This is
administered by the ministry of Lands which issues title deeds in collaboration with the
council.

4. LEASEHOLD

This is the statutory lease of land for a maximum period of 99 years. This also requires
the consent of the president. Certificates of title are also issued.

1. TYPES OF FARMING

TRADITIONAL FARMING

This is the farming or growing of crops basically for the family’s’ sustenance. Small
portions of land are cleared and the crops are food crops for consumption. No
complicated machinery is used apart from axes and hoes. The following are some of the
traditional systems:

CHITEMENE SYSTEM

-Cultivation involves the chopping of small trees, branches and some top of large trees
by men and boys in May to August.

-Small branches are usually carried by women and girls and put into piles.

-This is usually done between June and September.

-The stacks are burnt in September or October to produce ash which acts as fertilizer
on the field.

-After the first rains, millet and other crops are sown in the burnt area.

-In the following years the fields are prepared by either tilling the land by making
mounds or ridges in the cleared area previously burnt.

-Crops are sown on rotational basis.

-When soil becomes exhausted after 5 to 7 years farmers start new fields.

-Farmers use simple tools for instance hoe, axe,

-Food produced is mainly for consumption.

-Crops grown are finger millet, sorghum, maize, cassava, rice, groundnuts, yams,
cowpeas, beans, sweat potatoes, etc.

 MAMBWE SYSTEM

-In March or April while the ground is still moist, a place of new land is hoed into
mounds which bury the grass in order to make compost.

-Small bushes are then cut and heaped here and there on the uncultivated patches and
later burnt.
-Cassava and beans are planted on fresh mounds.

-In the second year in November – December, the mounds are leveled and the rotten
material scattered as manure.

-Maize, sorghum and millet are planted as main crops.

-The mounds are re build in the third year and leveled again in the fourth year.

-There is little integration between livestock and field crops.

-Crops, similar to the Chitemene, are also grown.

THE LOZI SYSTEM

This has transhumance based on a number of land use practices determined by the
varying environment in the plain.

LITAPA

-Here the land is prepared in mid May. Planting is done in June in plains.

-Crops flood.

-Crops are harvested in November.

MAZULU

-These are mounds made by pilling of sediments during floods or by human

construction or by termites.

-Crops are planted in November – December.

LISHANJO

-Cultivation is throughout the year.

-Crops are planted in June and harvested in November and others planted in November
and harvested in May or June.

-This practiced at the edge of the plains.

MATONGO

-Crops are grown in the rainy season and soil fertility is maintained by manuring.

-This is practiced on the plateau.

MATEMA

-This involves the chopping of branches, small trees and tops of big trees in May –
August.

-These branches are cut further and heaped.

-The stacks are burnt in September or October to produce ash.

-Cassava is then planted before the first rains.

-Other crops are also planted in the rainy season.

-The land is abandoned after 5 years.

-The Lozi system has many agricultural techniques, that is, irrigation, drainage and
making ridges.

-It is generally intensive and integrates livestock with crops farming which provides
manure, transport and drought power.

-More labour is needed for digging canals, making ridges and herding cattle.

-Most of the crops grown are those under the Chitemene system, e.g. maize, finger
millet, beans cassava, pumpkins, melons etc.
-Flooding can sometimes lead to crop failure.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSISTANCE FARMING

1. Soil erosion – This is the removal of topsoil by agents such as rain, wind or
running water.
2. Diminishing yields – This is the decrease in production mainly due to
unsustainable methods of farming e.g. Chitemene.
3. Deforestation – Due to cutting of trees which help hold soil together. This can
lead to soil erosion and desertification.
4. Bush fires – This is due to early burning of fields and hunting.
5. Lack of capital – No money to purchase inputs or machinery.
6. Lack of inputs e.g. fertilizers and seed etc.
7. Lack of education – e.g. environmental awareness.
8. Unreliable rainfall and droughts.
9. Flooding causes excessive rainfall during some years.
10. Mono cropping – leads to soil impoverishment.
11. Pests and diseases – e.g. Tripanosomiasis and corridor disease.
12. Poor market leading to poor sales.
13. Poor transport especially impassable roads.
14. Long distance to markets especially to urban areas.

EMERGENT FARMERS

1. These are farmers who cultivate their land every year with soil fertility maintained
by crop rotation and fertilizers.
2. Machinery and other inputs are used to increase yields.
3. Crops harvested are for consumption and some for sale.
4. Cash crops such as sunflower, cotton groundnuts are grown for sale.
5. Family or hired labour or tractors are used.
6. Common in Chipata, Mumbwa, and along the line of rail.
7. Livestock e.g. cattle is kept.

EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Soil erosion.
2. Deforestation
3. Destruction of natural homes of plants and animals.
4. Displacement of wildlife due to cleared land.
5. Desertification caused by cutting down of trees.
6. Pollution caused by burning.

IMPACT OF MARKET LIBERATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

1. Poor distribution of inputs affecting especially the small-scale farmers.
2. Low producer prices.
3. Poor marketing of produced crops.
4. Low yields as a result of undelivered inputs.

 SOIL CONSERVATION MEASURES AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL

PRACTICES.

1. Contour ploughing – to retain moisture and avoid erosion.

2. Strip cultivation – protects the soil from erosion.
3. Crop rotation – to restore and replace nutrients.
4. Terracing – to retain moisture and check the flow of water downhill.
5. Mulching – covering the soil to retain moisture.
6. Ploughing across the slope to avoid erosion.
7. Controlled grazing – to allow for land regeneration.
8. Soil additives – adds nutrients to the soil.
9. Cover cropping – retains moisture and protects soil from erosion.
10. Afforestation – replaces cut down trees.
11. Fallowing – Allows soil to regenerate
12. Irrigation – Supplies additional water especially during droughts.
13. Organic farming – Use of leguminous plants to fertilize soil e.g. velvet beans,
peas and other legumes.

 GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO IMPROVE SUBSISTANCE FARMING

1. Provision or creation of co-operatives.

2. Creation of resettlement schemes.
3. Provision of extension services to educate the farmers.
4. Construction of feeder roads.
5. Use of drought animals e.g. donkeys in the southern province.
6. Provision of rural information services.
7. Distribution of inputs like fertilizers by government agents e.g. NGOs.
8. Purchasing and collection of harvested crops by Zambia Army and ZNS.
9. Fixing of purchase price of maize to avoid briefcase traders.

 WAYS TO IMROVE FOOD SECURITY

1. Improve marketing and storage facilities by Food Reserve Agency.

2. Production and distribution of seed by such as Zamseed, Pana Seeds.
3. Increase food production.
4. Improve crop research to have improved varieties of seeds e.g. drought resistant.
5. Improve transport especially feeder roads.
6. Providing credit facilities to small scale and emergent farmers.
7. Educating the farmers on sustainable methods of agriculture.
PASTORAL FARMING

TRADITIONAL PASTORALISIM

-Areas include Southern, Eastern, Western and Central provinces of Zambia.

-Breads of cattle include Angoni Tonga, and Zebu.

-Traditional pastoralists are Tongas, Ngonis, and Lozis.

-Other animals kept are goats (Northern Province) and pigs.

FACTORS FAVOURING PASTORALISM

1. Absence of tse- tse flies.

2. Rich pastures e.g. along the rivers and the flood plains, flats like the Kafue flats
and Bulozi flood plains.
3. Moderate to heavy rain fall.
4. Availability of water or rivers e.g. Zambezi.

PROBLEMS FACED BY TRADITIONAL HERDERS

1. Animal diseases like foot and mouth, tick borne and hay fever,
2. Ignorance of modern animal husbandry.
3. Long distance to markets.
4. Emphasis on quantity and not quality.
5. Recurrent droughts affecting pasture quality and availability.
6. Lack of dipping facilities.
7. Lack of storage facilities.
8. Poor grazing practices.

GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE BEEF CATTLE BREEDING

1. Establishment of ranches e.g. Mukushi, Chisamba, Mbala, Chishinga, Solwezi,

Mbesuma, Senanga, Mufulira, and Batoka.
2. Introduction of glazier schemes.
3. Providing training to farmers.
4. Providing farmers with loans.
5. Formation of support institutions to help purchase and market products e.g.
NGOs.
6. Reduce interests on loans.
COMMERCIAL FARMING

This is the growing of crops (arable) and keeping of animals on animals on a large
scale.

AREAS OF COMMERCIAL FARMING

1. Along the line of rail – Kalomo, Kapiri Mposhi, Kabwe, Mukushi, Choma,
Mazabuka, etc. where they grow maize, vegetables, tobacco, sunflower, etc.
2. Copperbelt towns where they grow vegetables under market gardening.
3. Eastern province towns with groundnuts, maize, cotton.
4. Mwinilunga with pineapple estates.
5. Luapula – mununshi for bananas, kawambwa for tea.
6. Kasama for coffee.
7. Mazabuka for sugar.

LOCATION FACTORS

1. Good fertile land rich in humus.

2. Moderate temperatures (18 -24º C).
3. Moderate to heavy rainfall (700 – 1000mm) and above.
4. Availability of cheap and well co-coordinated transport ( road and rail ).
5. Availability of labour (skilled and unskilled)
6. Easy acquisition of farm inputs like machinery, fertilizers, seeds, insecticides and
feed for animals.

 EXERCISES

Write the growing conditions for the following crops:

1. a) Maize b) Tobacco c) Cotton d) Tea e) Coffee d) sugarcane.

 IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL FARMING TO ZAMBIA

1. Ensures food security.

2. Provides raw materials e.g. maize for mealie meal.
3. Stimulates other agro based industries e.g. tea processing.
4. Brings foreign exchange through exports.
5. Provides employment to farm workers etc.

INPUTS IN COMMERCIAL FRAMING

These include land, labour, capital, machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds.

OUTPUTS

-Animal products e.g. meat, polony etc.

-Crops e.g. maize, coffee, etc.

ZAMBIA” S POTENTIAL IN SADC REGION

1. Plenty of arable land.

2. Plenty of rainfall.
3. Availability of fertile soil.
4. Ready market home and in the SADC.

ADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING

Consider all the points for IMPORTANCE above.

-Able to use machines.

-Flexibility in choice of crops.

-Large out put.

DISADVANTAGES

-Susceptible to price changes.

-High cost of inputs

-Damages the environment through chemicals.

-Mono culture can lead to desertification.

-Takes up a lot of space which could be used for other things.

IRRIGATION

This is the artificial application of water to crops.

LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN ZAMBIA

1. Nakambala sugar estate in Mazabuka.

2. Mpongwe Wheat scheme in Mpongwe.
3. Kawambwa Tea Estates.
4. Gwembe valley Development Company for cotton.
5. Kateshi and Ngoli coffee schemes in Kasama.

FACTORS FAVOURING IRRIGATION

1. Availability of water e.g. pumped from underground.

2. Fertile soil
3. Well developed transport network.
4. Well established market.
5. Availability of labour – skilled and unskilled.
6. Availability of capital to buy equipment e.g. centre pivot.
7. Flat land.
8. Use of available research knowledge.

IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION

1. Increased food production e.g. cultivation through out the year.

2. Increased export e.g. horticultural products from Agri Flora abd Chisamba area.
3. Increased raw materials e.g. sunflower seeds and coffee beans.
4. Useful in the absence of rainfall or unreliable rainfall.

EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION ON ENVIRONMENT

1. Salinazation – this is the concentration of salts in the upper layer of the soil.
2. Water logging as a result of too much irrigation
3. Water pollution.
4. Water borne diseases e.g. bilharzias.

AGRICULTURE – SUB REGION

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE TO THE SUB REGION

1. It is a source of food e.g. mealie meal.

2. Source of employment e.g. farm workers.
3. It is a basis of many industries e.g. sugar refining.
4. It is the main source of revenue for governmeSubsistance farmers practice
shifting cultivation but get back to the land after some years.

 MALAWI – SUBSISTANCE

CROPS – Subsistance crops include maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans, sweet
potatoes, rice, cassava, bananas etc.

AREAS; Lilongwe, Chitipa, Mzuzu, Zomba, Karonga, Katumbi, Livingstonia and almost
all areas.

FACTORS FAVOURING SUBSISTANCE FARMING.

1. Fertile soil rich in humus.

2. Adequate land especially central Malawi.
3. Use of simple tools e.g. axes hoes.
4. Plateau area e.g. around Lilongwe.
5. Moderate to heavy rain especially on the plateau and the high lands.

EFFECTS OF AGRIC ON THE ENVIRONMENT

As stated under Zambia.

SOIL CONSERVATION

As discussed under Zambia.

ZIMBABWE – SUBSISTANCE

Subsistence farming here is mainly based on communal land and emergence farms.

AREAS include Central Zimbabwe e.g. Masvingo, Gweru, Harare, Kadoma, Bulawayo,
Bindura, Buhera and almost all areas.

FACTORS FAVOURING SUB REGION AGRICULTURE

1. Fertile soils
2. Use of simple tools.
3. Availability of land especially flat land.
4. Use of artificial fertilizers.
5. Availability of family labour.

 CROPS UNDER SUBSISTANCE FARMING

-Maize, Sorghum, Groundnuts, Beans, Millet.

-Emergent farmers cultivate cash crops like Wheat, Barley, Soya beans, Sun flower,
vegetables and cotton.

-Animals kept are cattle and poultry.

PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND FOR SUBSISTENCE

AGRICULTURE

1. Low annual rainfall e.g. less than 650 mm per year.

2. Unreliable rainfall – droughts.
3. Silting of rivers.
4. Infertile soils low in organic matter.
5. Soil erosion which leaves soil bare.
6. Less grazing land due to too many animals.
7. Lack of transport due to poor roads.
8. Areas of rock or dad lands.
9. Tse tse fly infestation especially near game reserves.
10. Lack of water supply especially from under ground.
11. Long distance to markets especially in urban areas.
12. Difficulties in obtaining credit facilities.

KENYA – PASTORALISM

THE MASAI

AREAS – These include the Kenya Highlands.

Types of cattle include Zebu.

FACTORS FAVOURING PASTORAL FARMING.

1. Equable temperatures to facilitate movement of cattle.

2. The area is a natural grassland e.g. the Masai steppe.
3. Masai are natural cattle herders.
4. Cattle bring honour.

PROBLEMS FACED BY THE MASAI

1. Seasonal high temperatures (38ºc) are uncomfortable.

2. Poor quality natural grass as a result of erosion.
3. Masai keep cattle for their numbers and not quality.
4. Cattle diseases e.g. Nagana or Tripanosomiasis.

MEASURES TAKEN TO LESSEN THE BROBLEMS

1. Expansion of the export of meat.

2. Education of the Masai on good grazing practices.
3. Introduction of Indian bulls and Pedigree British cattle.
4. Re sowing of pasture with drought resistant and more nourishing grasses e.g.
star grass.
5. Provision of veterinary services and fertilizers.
6. Introduction of more stable shelters.
7. Ranching schemes in drier grasslands west of the lake shore areas.
8. Provision of boreholes and valley tanks for extra water.
9. Encouraging farmers to keep a limited number or cattle.
10. Compulsory spraying and dipping of animals.
11. Establishment of monthly markets by dealers from Kampala.

IMPACT OF PASTORAL FARMING ON THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Trampling by animals causes soil erosion.

2. It can lead to deforestation.

USES OF CATTLE BY THE MASAI PEOPLE

1. Milk as a staple food combined with blood and semi-cooked meat.

2. Skins used for shelter and cloth.

LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL FARMING

TEA

AREAS

MALAWI – Mulanje mtn slopes, Sapitwa, Thiolo, Makwasa, and Nkhata Bay.
KENYA – Nairobi, Kericho, Fort Hall, Meru, Nyeri and Limuru.

ZIMBABWE – Mutare. Nyanga

Tea originated from China and was drunk as traditional plain (Green) tea.

It is an evergreen perennial shrub.

CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. High temperatures of over 21ºc.

2. Heavy rainfall of above 1500 mm.
3. No killing frost.
4. Slightly acidic well drained soil without calcium.
5. Grows on highlands and well drained soil.
6. Some shade to allow for cool air and humid weather to facilitate leaf growth.

CULTIVATION

1. Tea is grown from a nursery.

2. Six months later when the tea plants are 0.3m high, they are transplanted 1.5m
apart into plantations.
3. Pruning is done at regular intervals to stimulate growth of shoots.
4. At the end of the second year, picking begins up to the fiftieth year.
5. Tea needs a lot of capital, labour, well established transport network.
6. It is planted on plantations owned by multinational companies.
7. In Malawi, there are some small scale tea growers in Mulanje, Thyolo and
Nkhata Bay.

PROCESSING

1. Picked leaves are taken the factory.

2. Leaves are dried in a heated room or in the sun.
3. The leaves are crushed by steel rollers.
4. The leaves are fermented to make the tea leaves black.
5. The fermented leaves are then dried again by roasting them until they become
brown.
6. The tea leaves are then sifted, graded and packed in tea chests lined with tin foil
to retain the aroma and freshness.
7. The packed tea leaves are ready for sale locally and abroad.
8. Most of the tea is exported to United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Holland.

PROBLEMS FACED BY TEA GROWERS

1. Land shortage due to increasing population in southern Malawi.

2. Seasonal rainfall especially drought affects production.
3. Lack of knowledge and capital by small scale farmers affects expansion.
4. Fluctuating prices of tea on the world market.

COFFEE

AREAS

ZIMBABWE – Chinoyi and Mhangura.

KENYA – Kericho, Kakameza and Mau escarpment.

Coffee is the second most drunk beverage, after tea.

Originated from Ethiopia and was first drunk by Arabs as coffee Arabica.

Coffee is a perennial crop which can produce for more than 40 years.

 VARIETIES

1. ARABICA

-This is the most aromatic, with the finest flavor.

-It is the mostly used coffee.

2. ROBUSTA

It is the West African hardy coffee.

It has a stronger taste .

It is more resistant to disease.

It produces high yields.

It makes good instant coffee.

3. COFFEE LIBERICA

-It is basically low land coffee.

-A cross breed between Arabica and Robusta produces Arabusta.

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. High temperatures of over 32ºc.

2. High rainfall of between 1000 and 1500 mm with dry season of not more than two
months.
3. Well drained soil especially volcanic soils with a lot of air and moisture.
4. Average height of between 1000 and 2500 m above sea level.
5. Some shade to prevent direct sunshine.
6. Some wind break e.g. bananas or any natural woodland to protect the coffee
trees from strong winds.

CULTIVATION

1. A nursery of seedlings is prepared.

2. It is transplanted after six months at intervals of 3 metres between plants in
plantations and small holdings.
3. The trees are pruned yearly to allow for heavy bearing and easy picking.
4. Coffee needs a lot of labour for picking.
5. Harvesting of coffee begins in the third year.
6. Coffee needs a lot of money to buy machinery and insecticides.
7. Coffee production is affected by fluctuating prices on the world market, pests and
diseases.

PROCESSING

1. Coffee beans are picked by hand, cured and washed.

2. Pulping – the coffee beans are separated from the pulp.
3. The beans are then dried, sorted, graded and roasted.
4. The coffee is then ground into powder and blended for sale.
5. Demand for robusta is increasing.
6. The pulp is used for cattle feed production.
SUGARCANE IN SOUTH AFRICA

AREAS

1. Sugar belt on the coastlands of Natal.

2. Natal mid lands e.g. Port Shepstorne and Durban.
3. Boundary with Transvaal.

GROWING CONDITIONS

1. Heavy rainfall of 1200 mm to 1250 mm but reduced at maturity to increase sugar

content before harvesting.
2. Requires 14 months growing season.
3. Moderate temperatures of between 25ºc and 30ºc. Temperatures below 25ºc
limit growth while those above 30ºc yields low sugar content.

NOTE: Lower temperatures in Natal have resulted in a longer growing season of 24

months.

CULTIVATION

1. Sugar cane is grown from cuttings of about 15 to 20 cm long with tow to four
buds.
2. The cuttings are usually taken from the upper to middle parts of canes.
3. They are planted in strips or contours to allow for different maturity stages.
4. Drainage channels are made to supply additional water.
5. Planting is done in September to November, when temperature and rainfall are
high.
6. The cuttings are dipped in hot water to prevent infections, and then dipped in
fungicides before planting.
7. The cuttings are laid in shallow furrows about 140 cm apart.
8. Weeding and hoeing is done to allow for easy percolation of water.
9. Trashing or removal of leaves at the lower parts of the canes is occasionally
done.
10. Harvesting is done from May to December by cutting the tall canes with long
machetes.
11. The first plant is called PLANT CANE.
12. The shoots that appear after cutting the canes are called RATOONS. These can
also be harvested after two years and the field is replanted after fallowing.

PROCESSING

1. After cutting the tall canes, the leaves are removed from the canes.
2. The leaves, called TRASH, are left to cover the field to prevent moisture loss,
cover weeds, prevent erosion and make humas.
3. The canes are put in bundles and transported to the mills by tractors and trailers.
4. The canes are processed on the same day by weighing and chopping the canes
again to maximize the sugar removal.
5. Juice is extracted by passing the canes through rotating rollers.
6. The juice is heated and lime is added to neutralize the acid in the juice.
7. The fibrous waste called BAGGASE remains after the juice has been removed
and used as a fuel in the mills’ rollers.
8. Suspended materials are removed from the juice by a process called clarification.
9. Impurities called mud sinks to the bottom. These are used in the field as
fertilizers.
10. The clear juice extracted is boiled until sugar crystals are formed. More boiling
produces more crystals.
11. The crystals are removed from the liquid by spinning and dried.
12. The liquid called molasses remains after all the crystals are removed. This is
used as stock feed, fertilizer and for making alcohol.
13. The raw sugar is refined by dissolving it in water and adding a small amount of
milk of lime and passing carbon dioxide through it.
14. The mixture is passed through rotary filters to remove more mud.
15. The mixture is the passed through charcoal to decolour it.
16. To produce white sugar, the sugar solution is again evaporated in pans to
produce syrup which is then dried.

Refineries are located within the area of production e.g. Hullets, Durban, Umfolozi, Port
Shepstorne and Richards Bay.

NOTE

At Nakambala in Zambia,

Refining is done at the estate.

Some of the canes are grown by out grower schemes like the Kaleya small holdings
and other farmers.

Cane fields are burnt before cutting for easy cutting and safety of the workers.

Production is favoured by

-Irrigation
-High temperatures

-Flat land

-Availability of HEP

-Plenty of labour

-High demand both local and abroad.

In Malawi, sugar cane is grown in the lower Shire Valley, Lake shore area, Nchelo and
Dwangwa.

In Zimbabwe, sugar cane is grown at Chiredzi.

General conditions of growth and processing apply. See previous notes.

MAIZE

This is the most important crop in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

AREAS

Zimbabwe – Harare, Bulawayo, Chipinge etc. All over Zimbabwe.

Malawi – Lilongwe, Dowa, Thyolo, Ngabu, produces maize commercially.

 GROWING CONDITIONS

1. Summer moderate rainfall of 620 to 1000 mm.

2. Moderate temperatures of 20ºc to 25ºc.
3. Red clayey soils which holds moisture.
4. Frost free maturity time with a lot of sunshine.

CULTIVATION

1. Planted from October to mid November.

2. Needs a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
3. Needs spraying and a lot of acetylic powders to prevent it from bores and
beetles.
4. Matures after 4 months.

RICE

Rice is grown in sub tropical or tropical climate.

This is grown in Malawi at Nsanje, Ngabu, and Limbe Marsh.

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS.

1. Needs upland terraced areas with a lot of water.

2. Heavy rainfall of at least 1270mm during 4 to 6 months of the growing season
and a sunny harvest time.
3. High temperatures of 18c to 27c with no cold season.
4. Level ground to keep water.
5. An impervious sub-soil of clay or loamy soil to retain water.
6. Cheap and abundant labour for sowing, harvesting, and general preparation.

FACTORS INFLUENCING LARGE SCALE (COMMERCIAL) FARMING.

1. Availability of transport e.g. rail and road.

2. Availability of market e.g. within SADC and abroad.
3. Presence of labour for instance, unskilled e.g. local and foreign.
4. Capital in form of finances.
5. Machinery e.g. centre pivots, tractors etc.
6. Availability of fertilizers.
7. New seed varieties e.g. drought resistance.
8. Availability of other inputs e.g. herbicides.
9. Irrigation for double or increased yields.
10. Plateau or flat land for easy cultivation.
11. Fertile and well drained soils for crops like maize and tea.
12. Availability of rainfall e.g. heavy rainfall for coffee.

 PROBLEMS FACING THE SUB REGION FARMERS

1. Lack of markets (national and international).

2. Low prices on the world market.
3. Drought especially in the southern part of Africa.
4. Unreliable rainfall due to variations.
5. Pests and disease out breaks e.g. maize stalk borer and corridor disease.
6. Lack of capital e.g. to purchase equipment.