By Happy Mulolani
This year, most parts of Zambia have witnessed prolonged dry spells thereby posing serious food security concerns to livelihoods. Several smallholder farmers’ have had their field crops wilt arising from the high temperatures experienced this farming season.
These climatic shocks are a source of concern and require an immediate panacea to ensure households are food secure.
Speaking during a Conference of Party (COP28) review in Lusaka, Action Aid Zambia Business Development and Fundraising Manager Zambia Geoffrey Sizala, reiterated that this year climate change has had a significant impact on communities, hence the need for civil society organisations to step out and take a proactive stance in advocating for effective policy implementation of critical issues such as loss and damage.
“The time to act is now and also re-think policy implementation as well as provide alternatives to local communities, as climate change requires solutions which are sustainable,” Mr Sizala said.
He cited that over two million farmers benefiting under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) engaged in cultivating food crops have been hit by these dry spells. This is likely to lead to a slump in agriculture production.
“The loss caused will obviously affect productivity and negatively impact on food security of the country,” Mr Sizala said.
He challenged civil society organisations to unite and assist communities in mitigating the effects of climate change.
With the already devastating effects on farmer’s crop fields especially maize which is considered to be the country’s staple food, an effective crop assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture is required to ascertain the extent of crop damage. This will enable the government to devise a strategy to come up with measures and possible options for addressing food security and effective planning.
Climate Change Activist Abel Musumali proposes the urgent need for Zambia to adopt a local resource strategy to effectively address climate change to improve livelihoods.
“The narrative around addressing climate change needs to be taken further afield by engaging in climate financing with improved local financing mechanisms,” Mr Musumali asserts.
The Loss and Damage Fund has been an advocacy programme for many years but there has been concern on the lack of human rights in the management of the fund especially towards vulnerable states.
“This loss and damage fund needs to be more accessible by making it more of a grant than a loan, it has to,” Mr Musumali argues.
He explained that the operationalisation of the loss and damage fund was timely, given the extent of the crop loss. It is a fact that developing countries need support from developed countries to address the devastating effects of climate change.
Zambia Climate Change Network Acting Coordinator Lydia Chibambo appreciated the operationalisaton of the Loss and Damage Fund which witnessed developed countries pledge over US$700,000 towards assisting vulnerable communities cope with the dire effects of climate change.
Ms Chibambo pointed out that it was encouraging that a Zambian climate expert well vest with the issues within the climate space has been nominated to be part of the Loss and Damage Fund.
To further curb climate change effects, there is need to adopt strategies that will promote food security through adopting appropriate varieties that are resilient to climatic shocks such as high yielding varieties, among other actions to help address the anticipated lower agriculture production.
Recently, President Hakainde Hichilema declared drought as a National Disaster and Emergency, as over two million households are expected to be affected.
This, President Hichilema describes as a triple tragedy for many households and that the national disaster will focus on actions to ameliorate this situation.
The Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) supports the declaration of drought as a national disaster, noting that the prolonged dry spell and expectant negative impacts on the country’s agriculture, water and energy supply has necessitated the declaration.
ZCCN Board Chairperson Monica Chundama acknowledges the necessity for the country to mobilise needed domestic and external resources for addressing the crisis.
“ZCCN urges government to adopt a comprehensive approach that draws together all stakeholders this will promote a longer-term, holistic, and strategic approach including future drought risk for short-term and long-term basis in a changing climate, which includes preparedness, responses, relief, recovery measures strategy, and planning; Given the negative impact on food security,” Ms Chundama reaffirmed.
She called on the government to seriously consider Agroecology agricultural practices and prioritise the promotion of drought-resilient crops such as millet, sorghum, and cassava through existing programmes.
As the country continues to grapple with actions towards climate change, there is need for more investment in early warning information systems for prompt and timely weather information dissemination, and also ensure concerted efforts towards increased production and productivity.