THE Organic Farming Academy(OFA) trainers Tatenda Manyadza and Doreen Ngwenyama underwent biochar production training in November at CIMMYT-Zimbabwe.
The training was conducted by our partner, CarbonConnect’s co-founder Nando Knodels with the help of our biochar consultant, Tafadzwa Nyamande.
The biochar production technique on which they were trained uses an open-earth cone-pit method.
While explaining the processes to the trainers, CarbonConnect’s Nando Knodel revealed that the method is ideal for small-scale farmers to produce their biochar.
Here is how biochar can be produced using the cone-shaped pit as explained by Nando;
You must first dig a cone-shaped pit with a surface diameter around 1 meter and 2 meters deep. Start a fire at the base of the cone using small twigs. Once it burns strongly, add slightly larger wood pieces.
After the initial wood develops a layer of white ash, add more wood. Repeat this process till you reach the top of the cone, using larger pieces of wood each time.
Once the top layer started turning white, the fire had to be quenched by water leaving charred remnants- biochar.
Knodel emphasized that to produce quality biochar there is the need to use the right feedstock and woody materials are highly recommended.
CIMMYT Zimbabwe’s Cropping Systems Agronomist Dr Isaiah Nyagumbo commended OFA for embarking on this biochar production saying it has the potential to address poor soils in Zimbabwe.
“This is quite a noble initiative since biochar helps to improve soils when recharged with nutrients. Here, we have many areas with poor soils and biochar can be an ideal remedy,” Dr Isaiah Nyagumbo said.
Biochar production, uses and application has already been added to the OFA training modules.