Why Are So Many Farmers Stuck in a Cycle of Declining Yields and Rising Input Costs?

For decades, smallholder farmers have been told: “Use more fertiliser, get higher yields”.

Yet,  reality tells a different story.

Despite billions spent on subsidies such as the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) in Zambia, maize yields remain  low. Soils are tired, compacted and lifeless. 

Every planting season, farmers face the same dilemma:

“Do I spend my last money on synthetic fertiliser or on food for my children?”

The truth is, chemical fertilisers offer a short-term fix but at a long-term cost. They feed the plant, not the soil. Over time, they kill beneficial microbes, degrade organic matter and create dependency.

What if there was a way to feed both the crop and the soil using materials you already have on your farm?

Start using fermented liquid bio-fertiliser (FLBF), a low-cost, microbe-rich alternative developed by farmers and scientists at the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) in Zambia.

Chemical Fertilisers Do not Build Soil. They Break It.

Synthetic NPK fertilisers deliver nutrients in a form plants can absorb quickly. But they do nothing to restore what is  missing beneath the surface: Living soil.

Healthy soil is not  just dirt. It is a thriving ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, earthworms and organic matter that:

• Breaks down nutrients into plant-available forms,
• Holds water during droughts,
• Suppresses diseases,
• Builds structure so roots can breathe.

Chemical fertilisers disrupt this system. They acidify the soil, reduce microbial diversity and are washed away with the first heavy rain, taking your money and your topsoil with them.

Fermented Liquid Bio-Fertiliser – Nature’s Micro-organisms  for Your Soil

Just like yoghurt contains live cultures that improve gut health, FLBF contains beneficial microbes, bacteria and fungi that revive soil life and make nutrients available to plants.

The Science Simplified

During fermentation (an oxygen-free process), microbes break down cow dung and other ingredients into:

• Organic acids that dissolve minerals in the soil,
• Enzymes that speed up nutrient cycling,
• Hormones that stimulate root growth,
• And antibiotics that suppress harmful pathogens.

The result? A liquid full of  life that: 

• Boosts germination and early growth
• Increases resistance to pests and drought
• Improves soil structure over time
• And costs almost nothing to make

How It Works in Practice

Farmers at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre follow a simple recipe:

• Fresh cow dung (full of native microbes)
• Wood ash (for potassium and pH balance)
• Molasses or brown sugar (food for microbes)
• Milk or whey (adds lactic acid bacteria)
• Yeast (kickstarts fermentation)

After 3 – 4 weeks of sealed fermentation, the liquid is ready. Diluted 1:20 with water, it is applied as a top dressing or foliar spray every 2 – 3 weeks.

Unlike chemical fertilisers that “burn” if over-applied, FLBF is gentle and self-regulating because it works with nature, not against it.

Why This Matters Beyond the Field

Adopting FLBF is about:

• Food sovereignty: No more dependence on imported fertilisers.
• Climate resilience: Healthy soils store carbon and retain water.
• Gender equity: Women can make FLBF using local resources, no cash or travel needed.
• Circular economy: Waste (manure, ash) becomes wealth.

And when combined with other agroecological practices like botanical pest sprays (mtetezga, chisoyo) and crop diversification, you build a complete, chemical-free farming system.

Download the free Knowledge product: How to Make Fermented Liquid Bio-Fertilisers-KATC

Author: Rabecca Mwila

Rabecca Mwila is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. With a background in climate change and communications, she has spent years telling the untold stories of the realities of climate change, environmental and climate injustices and how they affect vulnerable communities in Africa and beyond