“They is need support to the farmers to have a sustainable farming season, NALUMANGO

 

By Daily News Reporter

The entire Northern part of Chongwe district has recorded a 100 percent crop failure this farming season, due the drought.

And Vice President, MUTALE NALUMANGO says government has taken a proactive approach in addressing the adverse impact of the drought situation.

Mrs. NALUMANGO was speaking when she visited some farms in Chongwe’s Kanakantapa resettlement scheme, which has also been affected by the drought. Noted that once operational the water reservoir will be an answer to the climate related challenges that farmers are facing and can also be used for winter farming.

She further called for support in irrigation and energy so that farmers are able to drive sustainable farming.

And the Vice President urged farmers to diversify by also farming climate resilient crops such as cassava.

A young farmer, Anderson Phiri, of Chongwe District in Kanakantapa resettlement area bemoaned the loss incurred due to the droughts.

Mr Phiri explained that he was expecting to produce over 2000 by 50 kilogram bags of maize from a 7 Hector's rented farm, but the devastating effects of climate changed his odds.

And Peter Chileshe, a disabled beneficiary of resettlement land thanked the government for helping his family with settlement land where he now undertakes various income generation activities.

Mr Chileshe is also a beneficiary of the Social Cash Transfer and Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) that has improved his livelihood.

He urged Zambians to remain united especially during the period when the country is hit with effects of climate change. We go to sleep hungry”: Children surviving on boiled waterlily roots and wild fruits as drought devastates 50% of Zambia’s food crops.

Seven out of 10 provinces in Zambia have been impacted by the intense drought, with the El Niño induced dry spell killing crops and drying up water sources

Zambia’s crippling drought, the worst its seen in at least 20 years, is leading to widespread food shortages with some children forced to survive on a single daily meal of boiled waterlily roots, nuts and wild fruits, said Save the Children.

And Seven out of 10 provinces in Zambia have been impacted by the intense drought, with the El Niño induced dry spell killing crops and drying up water sources. The government has declared the situation a national emergency, with more than 1 million children facing severe food shortages.

Rains have failed in Zambia for nine weeks consecutively at a time when farming families needed it most, with almost half of the nation’s planted area destroyed, according to the Zambian President. Farming families are particularly hit hard by the changes in weather patterns, as they depend on rain to support the production of maize, the country’s principal food crop and have lost one million hectares (2.5 million acres) from 2.2 million planted crops due to the influence of El Nino on the 2023-2024 rainy season.

A combination of factors including limited humanitarian funding, double digit inflation rate, and skyrocketing food and commodity prices are exacerbating the food crisis in Zambia, with mothers in rural areas telling Daily News that they are unable to feed their children and fear for their lives.

Nine-year-old Namushi lives in Zambia’s Northern part of Chongwe district with her grandmother Mafelelezo, 55, her two sisters and cousins. Her mother is unwell, so Mafelelezo takes care of Namushi and her sisters. The current drought has left the extended family – who survive by farming a small area of land – in a desperate search for food each day.

Namushi told Daily News that hunger is the most challenging part of her day and that she doesn’t have the desire to play when she’s hungry.

She said: “The crops have all dried up compared to last year. It’s due to poor rainfall. When I see this, I feel hungry. We eat once a day. We eat the mashwa (waterlily root). We eat it boiled.

“When I’m hungry I don’t have the desire to play. I feel hungry at school. At times I feel like collapsing due to hunger. Last year things were a little better and there was food.”

Seven-year-old Lawrence also lives in the Northern part of Chongwe district with his mother, Inonge, 38, his 13-year-old sister and grandmother. They are a closely-nit family who rely on growing their own food to survive but the current drought has left the family with very little to eat.

Lawrence said: “There’s no rain. The maize has not grown well because of the hot sun. The food has been burnt by the sun. I feel bad. Sometimes we only eat once [a day]. Sometimes we go to sleep hungry. I feel bad when there’s no food to eat.”

Sitting across from Lawrence, his mother said:

“When my children miss meals and sleep on an empty stomach, you would think they are sick from the way they look. When we get food, and they eat a little food, then they start playing around and you realise it’s just the hunger that makes them sleep. When they’re hungry, they’re not energetic, they even look like they’re confused.”

“We’re asking the government to help us with food, so our children’s progress won’t be affected. If they give us food, we can prepare food for our children daily. When they’re well-fed, then they won’t fail to go to school, especially the little children. When they go to sleep on an empty stomach, they’ll fail to go to school.” Said Lawrence