National Irrigation Research Station (NIRS)
Historical Background And Overview
In 1955, the Rhodesia Selection Trust (RTS) thought of utilizing the soils of the Kafue flats. They faced problems of utilizing the soils of the Kafue flats which were yearly flooded. In 1956, the decision was made, to design a small Pilot Polder to test the potential of the clay soils of the flats. The RST group of companies agreed to finance the capital of the Pilot Polder and it's running costs for six years. By the end of 1956, the polder was completed and farming experimental work began. Every crop that was thought to succeed was tested.
After independence in 1964, the Pilot Polder was handed over to the new Government –Zambia. Later the name changed to Kafue Irrigation Research Station.
Early 1970’s the Zambian Government decided to promote irrigated agriculture and this meant to have one national place where irrigation research could be conducted. A decision was made to reconstruct Kafue Irrigation Research Station and later re-named as the National Irrigation Research Station in 1978.
Location
The station is in Southern province, Mazabuka district. It is 25km north East of Mazabuka town, and is about 125 km from Lusaka. If one is coming from Lusaka after passing Munali hills about 3 km there is a road junction from the right. It is 33 km from this junction. If one is coming from Mazabuka, one has to pass through Nakambala Sugar Estate and then Nanga Farms PLC. Most people call the station simply Nanga, a name derived from the Nanga Hill.
Agroecological Description
The total area of the station is about 300 hectares including 500 hectares polders. The soils are mainly the Cheta, Mwembeshi and Nakambala series which are reddish clays, deep, well structured and well drained with a sandy clay top soil. The soil pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.0. The same type of soils is widespread in Zambia.
Elevation is about 950m above sea level; the annual rainfall is about 850mm from November until March. Temperatures vary between freezing point in July to about 38°C in October.
Programmes Available At The Station:
The station hosts four major research programmers i.e.
- Irrigation Engineering
- Tree and Plantation Crops
- Vegetable Crops
- Plant Pathology
Irrigation Engineering Research Programme
Mandate/ Long term objectives of the Irrigation Research Team:
- To conduct research in Soil-Water-Plant relationship in all agro-ecological zones in Zambia.
- To conduct research in hydraulic structures related to irrigation also develop low cost water Lifting devices.
- To provide appropriate innovative irrigation technologies to various stakeholders.
- To provide Policy direction on irrigation development when requested.
Tree And Plantation Crops Research programme
Objectives:
- To identify fruit species that can be developed into important crops.
- To develop production packages for important fruit crops.
- To develop propagation methods to ensure disease and pest free propagules.
- To identify major pests and diseases and their control.
This has seen the following outputs achived:
- Improved propagation practices for the fruit trees have been developed and recommendations made for farmers.
- Recommendations for the best citrus varieties have been made and books have been written based on the orange rootstock trial.
- Silkworm eggs have been supplied to stakeholders.
- Farmers and other stakeholders have been trained in sericulture.
Vegetable Crops Research programme
Vegetable production is an important livelihood activity throughout Zambia.There is recognition of contribution of vegetables to poverty reduction, improved food and nutrition security and HIV/AIDS mitigation. Thus, the focus of the vegetables research programme has been on:
- Cultivar development.
- Development of improved vegetables management practices.
- Plant protection.
- Development and promotion of traditional vegetables.
- Seeds research.
Research Activities Carried Out
Since 1972, the following research activities have been undertaken:
Cultivar improvement
To develop and release suitable vegetable cultivars for cultivation under Zambian conditions.
Agronomy
To develop improved management practices for particular vegetable species and cultivars.
Plant protection
To identify and develop appropriate effective methods of preventing and managing major vegetable crop pests and diseases.
Traditional vegetables
To develop and promote traditional vegetable crops.
Seeds research
To develop appropriate seed production techniques for c = vegetable crops that have potential to produce seed under tropical and sub-tropical conditions.
Major Research outputs
- Cultivars of important vegetable crops in Zambia have been selected and released. The crops include tomato, onions, cabbage, rape, melons, okra, amaranth, cleome, French beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, eggplants, chillies and cauliflower.
- Improved cultural practices for major vegetable crops have been developed.
- Several traditional vegetables such as amaranth, cleome, local leafy Brassicas, corchorus and African eggplants have been improved and research is on-going.
- Major pests, and diseases attacking vegetables have been identified and control measures worked out.
- Through collaboration with various stakeholders, the Vegetable Research Programme has trained many field staff and farmers on improved production practices on vegetables.
- Publishing of vegetable production manuals for field staff and farmers.
Plant Pathology Research Programme
The Plant Pathology research program offers Plant disease and pest diagnostic services, under the Plant Disease Clinic. However, the underlying objectives are:
- To develop and adapt appropriate technologies in Plant Protection for farmers.
- To timely identify plant pests and diseases in order to reduce crop losses.
- To provide a pest and disease diagnostic service to farmers and other stakeholders.
The Programme is currently undertaking research in the following activities:
- Management of tomato diseases using mulch.
- Survey of irrigated wheat diseases.
- Checklist of locally available pesticides and their active ingredients (New Protocol).
- Plant Disease clinic – NIRS, Nanga.
