Gweembe DC laments farmers planting maize meant for consumption

By GIDEON NYENDWA

GWEEMBE District Commissioner Killion Chikandula has raised concern over farmers in the district resorting to planting maize meant for consumption.
The maize was distributed by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as part of Government interventions to address the effects of the drought in the area.
Gweembe, one of the districts most affected by drought recorded only 33 percent of its expected harvest during the 2022/2023 farming season. This has forced many farmers to use the maize provided for consumption as planting material due to lack of resources.
Mr. Chikandula emphasised the need to support farmers with adequate maize seed for planting in the next farming season.
Speaking in an interview, he revealed that only 4, 400 of the district’s 15, 000 farmers were registered beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
“The remaining 15, 000 farmers, who are not registered under FISP, rely heavily on support from NGOs because they have no seeds to plant. Currently, the maize they are receiving from FRA is being planted instead of being consumed,” he said.
The district recorded a 98 percent crop failure last season, and the FRA has so far distributed 106, 000 25-kilogram bags of maize to assist the affected communities.
Mr. Chikandula noted that while the government has implemented various interventions, such as social cash transfers, emergency cash transfers, and nutritional programmes for expecting and lactating mothers, the district continues to face significant challenges, including poor road networks and water scarcity.
“All streams and boreholes have dried up due to the drought, making life even more difficult for our people. However, we appreciate the New Dawn Administration under President Hakainde Hichilema for ensuring food security despite the poor harvests,” he said.
Hamunyanga village headman, Billy Mweemba, called for sustainable interventions to address the district’s challenges, particularly the effects of climate change and deforestation.
“There is a need to educate farmers on conservation farming practices and the dangers of deforestation. Many villagers depend on charcoal burning for survival, but with support, we could introduce initiatives like village chicken rearing and tree planting to empower communities,” he said.
The headman also expressed concern over the district’s growing population, which has compounded the effects of drought.
“Our rapid population growth is alarming. It has led to challenges such as malnutrition and school dropouts, with children abandoning school to help their parents in charcoal burning for survival,” he lamented.
Mr. Mweemba urged the higher authorities to implement targeted interventions to address these issues and help the community build resilience against the effects of drought.