Climate change is one of the global phenomena that has left a trail of devastating effects, such as the drought that Zambia is currently experiencing in most parts of the country, which has resulted in many farmers losing their crops.
On 29th February 2024, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the drought a national disaster that has affected about 84 districts and more than one million families in the country.
Six weeks after this declaration, there has been no rain in most parts of the country, and a farmer from Kabwe, Mr. Noah Nawa, says he expected to get about 100 bags of maize from the inputs he used this year, but the drought has affected terribly.
“I invested a lot of money in buying farming inputs and fertilizer, preparing the land, and farming labor,” he told Lusaka Star.
Mr. Nawa says climate change has made depending on farming as a source of income and food impossible due to the uncertainties caused by the changing weather.
“We are waiting to hear from the Zambia Meteorological Department on how the onset of rain will be going forward because I was listening to a professor from the University of Zambia (UNZA) who said El Niño effects could last for at least 7 years,” he says.
And Rufunsa farmer Chinyama Makwilimba says the uncertainty of the weather pattern next season should prompt the government to start identifying areas with natural water bodies and places that have underground water so they can start investing in irrigation systems that small-scale farmers can use.
Ms. Makwilimba, who invested over K3,500 in farming inputs and is set to harvest nothing from all her fields, sorrowfully laments how she expected to harvest 30 to 40 bags of maize that could have fed her family until the next harvesting season.
“Not even a cob will be harvested because when the maize reached somewhere around knee level, there was completely no rain, and it only rained about three weeks ago,” she says.
“The windy condition completely destroyed our crops.”
Ms. Makwilimba says there is need Government to invest in drought-resistant maize seeds and also supplement crops such as sorghum.
Another large scale farmer, Esther Nalumbwe from Kabwe whose only source of income is farming, said the weather forced her to invest in irrigation on short notice, which had a negative impact on her finances.
She invested about K40,000 on a five-hectare piece of land and expected to harvest more than 100,000 bags but may not harvest more than 40,000.
Going forward, she aims to promote agricultural diversification, encouraging farmers to engage in other forms of agriculture besides seasonal farming.
“For example, gardening, poultry farming, fish farming, and pig farming. Our aim is to do agriculture that is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and profitable,” she says.
Ms. Nalumbwe noted that there is need for Government to make financial aid accessible to SMEs in the agriculture sector, stating that it is hard for them to access loans from banks because they might not meet the requirements.
The devastating effects of the ongoing drought in Zambia extend beyond the immediate impact on crop yields and farmers’ incomes.
With over one million families affected, there is growing concern about food security and access to nutritious food.
This article was Co-authored by Twange Kalibange