Continued dry spell a danger to food security – ZACA

By NATION REPORTER

THE Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) has viewed the dry spell being experienced in some parts of the country as a danger to food security.

Juba Sakala, the ZACA executive secretary said the statement by the Meteorological Department has sent some shivers in many farmers in Southern, Central and Western provinces.

Mr Sakala said a lot of farmers had already planted and had applied D Compound fertiliser and the crop was at ankle length.

“Now with this dry spell, some crops have already started wiltering sending a message that they will die if we don’t have rains in the next few days which is a threat to food security and repeating what happened last season,” he said.

Mr Sakala said ZACA hoped that agro shops had in stock dry resistant seeds that could be planted in the event the situation worsened.

“We also hope Agriculture Extension Officers are on the ground in these provinces advising farmers on alternatives.

We also ask the Meteorological Department to keep on updating the nation on the current situation and what is expected,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kasonde Mwenda of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president has demanded truth and honesty from the government.

Mr Mwenda said Government should not trivialise the professional advice from the Meteorological Department but instead heed its advice.

“As I talk to you right now, I am in Chongwe and most crops here have dried. Replanting is not that easy like it is a game. There are costs and time involved,” he said.

Mr Mwenda said UPND had worsened the drought situation and the dry spell with its falsehoods, untruths and political lies.

He said a second drought was imminent and it was unfortunate the government had segregated the distribution of farming inputs with some regions and parts of the country systematically left out in the supply of seed and fertiliser.