DESPERATE times call for desperate measures is what an old maxim states, entailing that extreme circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally speedy actions.
The axiom typically means that in situations of extreme urgency or difficulty, it is necessary to take swift actions to achieve a desired outcome or solve a problem.
This is precisely what our defence forces have done in response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for the military to step in and help produce food crops in view of the current drought facing Zambia.
Last Thursday, the head of State declared this a disaster and emergency as it has destroyed at least a million hectares of planted crops out of the 2.2 million projected to be destroyed this agricultural season.
This has probably made this drought the worst in the country since the early 1990s when Zambia had to resort to importation of yellow maize to avert the hunger situation.
During a media briefing yesterday, Minister of Defence Ambrose Lufuma directed the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to immediately start preparing for irrigated maize production in all the farms that have centre pivot irrigation equipment.
The minister further ordered the Zambia Army and Zambia Air Force (ZAF) to utilise water sources within and around their Copperbelt and North-Western provinces based farms to engage in maize production through drip irrigation.
“We stand at the forefront of a crucial battle against nature’s adversity, tasked with the solemn duty of mitigating the impact of drought on our beloved nation,” Mr Lufuma shared.
And the three defence wings are already game to effectively respond to their Commander-in-Chief’s call for them to actively get involved in efforts aimed at making Zambia food-secure amidst the drought which has affected 84 districts.
ZNS has to this end suspended wheat production so that it commits all its irrigation equipment to producing irrigated maize, according to Commander Maliti Solochi.
Further, ZNS will grow irrigated maize on 1,978 hectares by the end of July this year, and the expected yield will be around 15,000 metric tons of maize by the end of the third quarter of 2024.
ZNS has also pledged to offer technical expertise and avail its earthmoving and agricultural equipment to the Zambia Army and ZAF when need arises in their quest to contribute to the national food basket.
Clearly, this is the right way to go for ZNS, and we commend the swiftness
with which the three military wings have responded to the presidential call.
By ZNS collaborating with the Zambia Army and ZAF in food production, chiefly through irrigation systems, the devastating impacts of this drought will be minimised.
Taking the irrigation farming route has several benefits and the most crucial being that it creates more reliable food supplies.
Our wish is that as the defence forces engage in production of irrigated maize to enhance national food security, our farmers nationwide will equally consider venturing into irrigation agriculture.
This is important because climate change is here to stay with us and, as such, our country will continue experiencing droughts or dry spells, making irrigation farming critical for food security.
Irrigation is important in agriculture because it allows farmers to water their crops during periods of drought. It also helps keep the soil moist and fertile, which is essential for plant growth.
Zambia will continue experiencing inconsistent rainfall patterns, making it crucial for farmers to harvest rainwater when we receive good rainfall so that they can use the same water to irrigate their crops in times of dry spells.
This is the best practice to adopt going forward.
Defence forces’ swiftness praiseworthy
DESPERATE times call for desperate measures is what an old maxim states, entailing that extreme circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally speedy actions.
The axiom typically means that in situations of extreme urgency or difficulty, it is necessary to take swift actions to achieve a desired outcome or solve a problem.
This is precisely what our defence forces have done in response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for the military to step in and help produce food crops in view of the current drought facing Zambia.
Last Thursday, the head of State declared this a disaster and emergency as it has destroyed at least a million hectares of planted crops out of the 2.2 million projected to be destroyed this agricultural season.
This has probably made this drought the worst in the country since the early 1990s when Zambia had to resort to importation of yellow maize to avert the hunger situation.
During a media briefing yesterday, Minister of Defence Ambrose Lufuma directed the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to immediately start preparing for irrigated maize production in all the farms that have centre pivot irrigation equipment.
The minister further ordered the Zambia Army and Zambia Air Force (ZAF) to utilise water sources within and around their Copperbelt and North-Western provinces based farms to engage in maize production through drip irrigation.
“We stand at the forefront of a crucial battle against nature’s adversity, tasked with the solemn duty of mitigating the impact of drought on our beloved nation,” Mr Lufuma shared.
And the three defence wings are already game to effectively respond to their Commander-in-Chief’s call for them to actively get involved in efforts aimed at making Zambia food-secure amidst the drought which has affected 84 districts.
ZNS has to this end suspended wheat production so that it commits all its irrigation equipment to producing irrigated maize, according to Commander Maliti Solochi.
Further, ZNS will grow irrigated maize on 1,978 hectares by the end of July this year, and the expected yield will be around 15,000 metric tons of maize by the end of the third quarter of 2024.
ZNS has also pledged to offer technical expertise and avail its earthmoving and agricultural equipment to the Zambia Army and ZAF when need arises in their quest to contribute to the national food basket.
Clearly, this is the right way to go for ZNS, and we commend the swiftness
with which the three military wings have responded to the presidential call.
By ZNS collaborating with the Zambia Army and ZAF in food production, chiefly through irrigation systems, the devastating impacts of this drought will be minimised.
Taking the irrigation farming route has several benefits and the most crucial being that it creates more reliable food supplies.
Our wish is that as the defence forces engage in production of irrigated maize to enhance national food security, our farmers nationwide will equally consider venturing into irrigation agriculture.
This is important because climate change is here to stay with us and, as such, our country will continue experiencing droughts or dry spells, making irrigation farming critical for food security.
Irrigation is important in agriculture because it allows farmers to water their crops during periods of drought. It also helps keep the soil moist and fertile, which is essential for plant growth.
Zambia will continue experiencing inconsistent rainfall patterns, making it crucial for farmers to harvest rainwater when we receive good rainfall so that they can use the same water to irrigate their crops in times of dry spells.
This is the best practice to adopt going forward.