DMMU worried with dry spells

Government is concerned with the performance of the 2014-2015 rainfall season and has urged all stakeholders to take appropriate measures in anticipation of agricultural crop failure, water and electricity rationing in the country.

Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Patrick Kangwa says the water resources for power generation, irrigation, domestic and other uses will significantly reduce in the coming months and this will call for enhanced water and electricity rationing throughout the country.

Mr. Kangwa notes that while the area planted with maize has remained similar to that of the previous year, the area to be harvested will significantly reduce as a result of the poor performance of the 2014/15 rainfall season.

Mr. Kangwa has told QFM News in a statement that it is anticipated that the yields will be much lower than the previous years.

He notes with deep regret that more than fourteen days of dry spells have been reported in Western, Southern and Eastern provinces.

He adds that this agricultural drought over the affected areas of the country has led to wilting and crop failure, raising production uncertainty.

Mr. Kangwa states that the crop damage is reported to be irreversible as the rain season for agriculture purposes comes to an end.

He says contrary to the forecast issued, the country experienced mixed rainfall performance with an early onset confined to the Northern, Luapula, some parts of North Western and Western provinces.

He adds that the rest of the country experienced a late onset with much of the rains received during the last ten days of December, 2014.

The DMMU National Coordinator says as of February 2015, the crop conditions in the country were satisfactory but by March the situation in the Southern half of the country deteriorated due to prolonged dry spells.

Mr. Kangwa says maize fields in many parts of Southern and Western provinces have wilted due to severe moisture deficit.