The National Union for Small holder farmers of Zambia -NUSFAZ, has urged the general public to try out mealie meal from other crops like millet and sorghum and cassava and not just sticking to maize.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times, National Union for Small holder farmers of Zambia -NUSFAZ executive director Ebony Lolozhi said, the general public has to start learning how to adapt with the shocks that come with climate change in terms of food security.
“You know when we are faced with all these challenges we need to adapt ,so it is either we adapt or we die of hunger , so what I am saying here is first of all we need to manage our land properly so that at the end of the day our land is able to attain the right levels of fertility .” he said.
He added that there is need to start incorporating rain water harvesting each time we are in the rain season so in the future it can be of value.
“Look at the way things are as a country, we are grappling with low food levels meaning that our harvest was heavily affected by the drought when we would have simply practiced smart agriculture practices so that we avoid losing yield,” he stated.
Lolozhi added that in regards to them advising farmers to start diversifying to growing crops like sorghum, millet,cassava and even sweet potatoes it is also vital for consumers to also start considering consuming more of millet, sorghum and cassava so that farmers can be motivated into growing more drought tolerant crops .
He further called for joined efforts from companies that are into producing beverages to be specific alcoholic beverages to come on board and stimulate market demand so that farmers are encouraged to go into drought tolerant crops.
