Shang’ombo district in Western province will have a 75 per cent reduction in this year’s crop because of a prolonged dry spell which the area experienced.
This is according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives crop assessment that was conducted in Siwelewele Camp. The assessment shows that most crops are dying.
Siwelewele Camp Agriculture Assistant Officer Maybin Malama said the poor rainfall pattern experienced this season has negatively impacted the crop performance in the district.
Mr. Malama said a reduction in crop yield especially in maize is ranging between 15 to 20 per cent.
He said the camp has between 450 and 500 households and about 700 farmers that will be affected by the food shortage.
The agriculture officer said the crop assessment report reveals estimated crop yield of 400 to 500 kg of maize per hectare with rice estimated at 150 to 250 kg and cow peas at 100 to 250 kg per hectare among other crops
And newly appointed Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Poniso Njeulu, who is also Sinjembela Member of Parliament, declared the hunger situation as a disaster.
Mr. Njeulu assured the people in the area and the entire Shang’ombo district that he would tell relevant authorities about the situation.
He said government, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), will ensure that the food shortage was averted through a provision of relief food to the district.
Mr. Njeulu is in the area to identify possible development projects which can be established in order to address critical challenges facing the district.
ZANIS
Even the weather isn’t happy with zed,everythin is going awry.From nasty politics,politically inspired deaths,negative foreign coverage,high mealie prices ,a crazy president….endless.We used to have bumper harvests and now this?
Hunger is looming not just in shangombo but all Zambia, why? because gvt would rather spend the money prosecuting former gvt officials for corruption instead of using the same money to support the hunger stricken areas.
This should not be the case. Those are fellow Zambians please let’s not create embarrassement for ourselves, on one hand we’re boasting of a great harvest and exporting, which good,how do we neglect our own and be proud.
Let that MP who was claiming that he would develop Shangombo because he is now a deputy minister feed the people there to prove his point.
Does hunger ever leave Shangombo? Just asking.
Something can be done, area MP where are you?