MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Statement for Immediate release.
Media Network Action on Climate Change Expresses Concern Over Dry Spell and Its Impact on 2024/2025 Farming Season
FRIDAY, 5th DECEMBER, 2024
The Media Network Action on Climate Change (MENACC) expresses deep concern over the ongoing dry spell and high temperatures affecting several parts of the country, following what initially appeared to be a promising start to the 2024/2025 rainy season. We are worried that this dry spell might hinder farmers' efforts to prepare for the current farming season, particularly those who have already planted their crops.
Reports indicate that just-germinated maize crops in various regions are showing signs of wilting. Farmers fear that unless the rains resume soon, these crops could be lost. This concern is amplified by guidance from the Zambia Meteorological Department, which advises farmers to cultivate drought-tolerant crops to mitigate losses.
The impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon on agriculture last season was severe. Another failed maize harvest would be disastrous for the country. Climate change has brought unprecedented challenges to agriculture globally, increasing uncertainty and risk.
Rising temperatures are altering precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, making farming increasingly unpredictable and vulnerable to environmental factors. This situation has likened agriculture to a gamble, where farmers must navigate complex and ever-changing conditions to achieve a successful harvest.
Given the current circumstances, it is imperative that the government provides timely and accurate information to farmers and the nation to help mitigate the potential losses. Immediate and effective communication and support are crucial in addressing this urgent situation.
Issued by:
Kennedy Phiri - Executive Coordinator
0971076286
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AIDS ZAMBIA’S CHOLERA FIGHT WITH STATE OF ART LABORATORY
By: MENACC
A new state-of-the art research laboratory, funded by the Scottish government to help Zambia fight cholera earmarked to open soon.
Sitting on the premises of the University of Zambia Ridgeway Campus in Lusaka, the laboratory called Lusaka Blantyre Blantyre is a game changer in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis.
Professor Sody Munsaka, head of operations at the new laboratory spoke to MENACC.
Ends....
MENACC/Hone collaboration
MENACC and Evelyn Hone College Journalism Section recently held a Climate Change Symposium for Final Year Journalism students. The Symposium was officially opened by UNESCO Secretary General, Dr. Heather Munachonga represented. The Symposium highlights are captured in this documentary. Enjoy!
#MENACC.
#Solutionsjournalism
President Hichilema declares drought national disaster
The President speech is below.....
Fellow citizens,
Today, with a heavy heart, we address you as our beloved country faces a severe drought, the worst of its kind, caused by the el Niño weather conditions in the 2023/2024 rain season influenced by the climate change phenomenon.
This drought has devastating consequences on many critical sectors such as agriculture, water availability, and energy supply, risking our national food security and livelihoods of millions of our people. This also negatively affects our economic development programme.
The destruction caused by the prolonged dry spell is immense, with 84 severely affected districts in Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt eastern, north-western, western, and southern provinces.
At national level the estimated planted area for maize is 2.2 million hectares and of this, approximately 1 million hectares has been destroyed.
The dry spell is projected to continue, even into the month of march 2024, affecting over 1 million of our farming households.
Equally affected is the energy sector that is expected to have a deficit of around 430 megawatts of electricity, potentially reaching more than 520 megawatts by December 2024.
The current drought conditions have also affected the availability of both ground and surface water, pasture for livestock and wildlife and has potential to increase the incidence of human and animal conflict, as well as disease.
The drought compounds the challenges the country was already facing, such as the covid-19 pandemic and the cholera outbreak.
This is diverting resources initially intended for accelerating economic and social development.
FELLOW CITIZENS
In view of these challenges, urgent and decisive action is required from all of us. The government, in accordance with the disaster management act no. 13 of 2010, and other relevant legislation DECLARES THE PROLONGED DRY-SPELL A NATIONAL DISASTER, AND EMERGENCY.
In view of
El Nino devastates Zambia and Southern Africa as farmers panic to salvage their staple maize crop as they turn to watering, but is it an issue of too little too late ?
Plastics and bottles pollution!!
The world search for a lasting solution to plastics and bottles pollution continues with last week's meeting in Nairobi anticipated to produce an agreement.
At local level alot can be done to deal with the problem which is wide spread contributing to climate change and other environmental hazards.
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN GLOBALLY FACE WATER SCARCITY DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
According to a UNICEF report, one in three children globally live in areas with limited access to water. It warns that the threat posed by climate change will worsen the situation by 2050 as 35 million more children are predicted to experience water stress.
Climate change is real let’s do our part to reverse the trend.
Africa heavily impacted by effects of climate change - MENACC
WARMA SPEAKS MITIGATIVE MEASURES ON LOW WATER LEVELS IN LAKE KARIBA
The Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has submitted long term solutions to the current low water levels in the Kariba Dam which is responsible for the ongoing load shedding in the country.
Speaking during the tour of the Kariba Dam, WARMA Director General Eng. Kenneth Nyundu disclosed that the compromised state of Zambia's water resources has immensely lead to the low water levels in the dams.
The WARMA Director General stated that the continuous unsustainable activities around water resources has caused the drying up of tributary rivers to the Zambezi which in turn has reduced the inflows to Lake Kariba.
"We as WARMA have been championing the sustainable management of water resources across the country because we are avoiding to face challenges that come with less water in our rivers." Eng. Nyundu said.
He further pointed out that there is need to increase the country's water storage capacity through the construction of over 12,000 reservoir dams compared to the current 2750 dams that will support the country in times of drought.
Eng. Nyundu noted that the other solution to the low water levels is ensuring that the resource is efficiencly used especially in agricultural practices. He said methods such as flood irrigation must be phased out to avoid losing about 50% of large volumes of water that is pumped in fields. The Director General added that the other solution is the inter basin transfer of water from the Congo Basin into the Zambezi Basin.
The Director General advised that it is prudent that all cooperating partners in the water sector work in unison in ensuring that solutions provided are actualised.
And the Zambezi River Authority Chief Executive Officer Eng. Munyaradzi Munodafa said the solutions submitted by WARMA, which he described as progressive, were welcome and will be supported by his organization.
