The cheaper mealie meal Zambia National Service – ZNS has been providing to vulnerable citizens is expected to reduce following the revelation that about 76 percent of the crops managed by ZNS have been damaged by the dry spells.
The Zambia National Service (ZNS) has revealed that out of the 1,455 hectares of maize put to crop by ZNS, 1,096 hectares of maize about 76 percent have been destroyed by the droughts leaving only 359 hectares.
With over 76% of their crops affected, it is feared that production of cheaper mealie meals, which is vital for vulnerable citizens, will plummet if immediate measures are not taken.
Recently, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the prolonged drought the country has been experiencing as a national disaster and emergency necessitated by the destruction of crops that affected over a million of households countrywide.
Speaking during a media briefing monitored by the Zambia Business Times – ZBT, ZNS commander lieutenant general Maliti Solochi said Solochi said that from the 359 hectares spared, very little to nothing is expected to be harvested.
He further revealed that revealed that of the 120 hectares of early maize put to crop at ZNS Munsakamba in Mkushi, ZNS expects to harvest about 960 tons of maize.
Solochi therefore revealed that ZNS will be undertaking short-term and medium-term interventions such as suspending the growing of wheat among other measures to heed the declaration of drought as a national disaster and emergency.
“ZNS had put to crop 1,455 hectares of maize out of which 1,096 hectares is completely destroyed with very little to nothing expected to be harvested. This leaves only 359 ha where we are likely to harvest some cobs. 120 hectares of early maize was put to crop at ZNS Munsakamba in Mkushi from which we envisage to harvest about 960 tons,” he said.
“In heeding to the timely declaration of drought as a national disaster and emergency, the Zambia national services will this year suspend the growing of wheat in order to commit all its irrigation equipment to grow irrigated maize. Two (02) new farms namely Shikabeta farm in Rufunsa and Luena farm in Kawambwa will be added to those where ZNS will grow maize. Each of the farms will add 128 and 520 hectares respectively. the Zambia national service will also put to crop 1, 978 hectares of irrigated maize by the end of July this year, with a projected yield of about 1 5 000 metric tons of maize grain by the end of the third quarter of 2024. ZNS will also drill solar boreholes in its ranches to mitigate the water shortages likely to be experienced which may affect livestock.”
“ZNS will continue working around the clock to ensure eagle’s Mealie meal is produced from its milling plants and we shall further continue to bring more retailers based in communities on board to ensure easy access to the commodity. Three (03) more dams are to be constructed this year at airport farms, Sopelo in Lusaka West, and Nyimba. Four more center pivots are being installed to bring the total holding of center pivot irrigation equipment to twenty-six (26). This will add 360 hectares to irrigate crops. Construction of community dams to promote irrigation farming in the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation,” said Solochi,
The drought crisis facing Zambia is a wake-up call for the government and the agriculture sector to take the issue of climate change seriously as the suspension of wheat cultivation and drilling of solar boreholes may provide temporary relief, but a more comprehensive and long-term strategy is needed to tackle the problem head-on.
