Crop production in Lundazi district of Eastern province has dropped to 130,954 metric tonnes this year from the 154,188 metric tonnes of maize that was produced during 2014/2015 farming season.
Lundazi District Commissioner (DC) Janet Palukani has attributed this reduction to the poor rainfall recorded during the 2015/2016 farming season in the district.
Ms. Palukani said farmers in the district should therefor embark on crop diversification and conservation farming in order to overcome the negative effects of climate change such droughts.
She observed that crop diversification and conservation farming will enable farmers to grow different types of crops that are drought resistant and subsequently improve household food security.
ZANIS in Lundazi reports that Ms. Palukani said this in a speech read on her behalf by Lundazi District Administrative Officer (DAO) Mukule Banda during this year’s district agricultural and commercial show.
The show was held over the weekend under theme was “managing the environment for growth”.
She further disclosed that government, through Ministry of Agricultural and Livestock, has since embarked on rehabilitating twelve cattle dip tanks in the district.
Ms. Palukani said the rehabilitation will cost K1.2 million adding that once completed, livestock production will increase thereby contributing to poverty reduction in the district.
And speaking at the same function, chief Mphamba of the Tumbuka people advised cooperatives in the district not only to become active during Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) activities to benefit from fertilizers but should be pro-active throughout the year.
The traditional leader said cooperatives should be always be busy and active with different income generating ventures.
But these *****s at PamaFi political party are insisting ati bumper harvest.
pamafi and chakolwa must fal…VIVA HH 2016