GOVT RAMPS UP DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

AS Zambia braces for another potentially dry farming season caused by the El Niño that could disrupt the 2026/2027 farming season, Government has urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture while unveiling a broad response plan to safeguard harvests and food security.

To strengthen the country’s resilience to the anticipated dry spell, the Ministry of Agriculture has developed a Comprehensive Agriculture and Food Security Cluster Response Framework aimed at minimising the impact of climate variability on agricultural production while ensuring coordinated interventions among key stakeholders.

Principal Public Relations Officer in the ministry Bhalewa Zyuulu said the framework draws on lessons from previous climate-related shocks and prioritises early preparedness to reduce the risks posed by adverse weather conditions.

In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Zyuulu said the response plan seeks to strengthen collaboration across the agricultural value chain to safeguard crop production and maintain food availability.

“The ministry has developed a Comprehensive Agriculture and Food Security Cluster Response Framework designed to strengthen resilience within the agricultural sector and reduce the potential negative impacts of climate variability on crop production and food availability,” he said.

Mr Zyuulu said Government was promoting a range of climate-smart agricultural practices, including conservation farming, the use of drought-tolerant and early-maturing seed varieties, expansion of irrigation infrastructure and improved water-harvesting technologies.

He said farmers were being encouraged to adopt the technologies to reduce their vulnerability to the anticipated dry conditions.

“The ministry has also developed a wide range of climate-smart crop varieties tailored to Zambia’s agro-ecological conditions to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions,” he said.

Mr Zyuulu added that Government had intensified nationwide soil testing, large-scale soil fertility mapping and nutrient management studies to provide farmers with accurate information for improved crop production.

He said the measures formed part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience and sustain productivity despite the projected climatic challenges.

To safeguard national food supplies, Mr Zyuulu said the Food Reserve Agency was strengthening the management of strategic grain reserves to ensure adequate stocks in the event of reduced harvests.

He also said surveillance systems had been enhanced, while crop protection inputs were being pre-positioned to improve preparedness against pests and diseases such as Fall Armyworm.

In addition, Government is promoting weather-indexed agricultural insurance, expanding access to irrigation infrastructure and supporting the adoption of climate-smart technologies through partnerships with the private sector and cooperating partners.