By NATION REPORTER
THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Zambia is deeply concerned about the current state of food security in Zambia and has demanded for urgent action from Government.
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Kasonde Mwenda, the EFF President says the party has observed two primary variables that were contributing to the alarming climate change situation, which include poor policy direction of the UPND government and the adverse impacts of climate change.
Mr Mwenda said the EFF had noticed with grave concern that several decisions made by the UPND government had contributed to the decline in food security.
“One such decision is the export of maize to neighbouring countries. While we acknowledge the importance of regional cooperation and trade, it is essential to prioritise our own citizens’ food security before fulfilling external demands. By exporting maize when we are already facing a shortage, UPND’s policy direction raises serious concerns about the well-being of Zambians,” Mr Mwenda said.
He said the party had observed the phasing out of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) subsidy, which had traditionally played a critical role in supporting small-scale farmers and ensuring their ability to produce enough food for their families and the nation was a threat to food security.
Mr Mwenda said the selling of maize and mealie meal had undermined the country’s food security and placed the livelihoods of countless farmers at risk.
He said Zambia, like many other countries, was facing the adverse impacts of climate change, erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and other climatic disturbances, which had already begun affecting agricultural production.
He feared that the climatic changes would undoubtedly result in lower yields of maize, as well as other cash crops, posing a significant threat to our food security.
“The combination of poor government policies in the agricultural sector and the impacts of climate change is a recipe for disaster. The EFF Zambia fears that if urgent action is not taken to address these issues, the consequences for our food security will be severe, potentially leading to increased hunger, malnutrition, and poverty across the nation,” Mr Mwenda said.
Mr Mwenda is now urging the UPND government to reconsider its policies in the agricultural sector and prioritize the food security of Zambian citizens.
“Our government must take decisive actions to support local farmers, ensure adequate subsidies are in place, and develop sustainable strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on agricultural production,” he said.
He said according to the crop forecasting survey results, the food security status for the 2022/2023 marketing season showed that the production of maize was expected to decrease by 25.24 per cent, from 3,620,244 metric tons in the recorded 2020/2021 season to 2,706,243 metric tons.
“Food security is not only crucial for the well-being of our people but also a matter of national security. We cannot afford to neglect the interests of our citizens, especially when it comes to one of the most basic human rights – access to sufficient and nutritious food. Failure to address the current state of food security in Zambia could have dire consequences, jeopardizing the stability and security of the nation as a whole,” Mr Mwenda said.
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