ZAMBIA’S RENEWED FOOD SECURITY THREATENED

Zambia’s record 3 years consecutive maize production bumper harvest is under threat.

This is because of the erratic rainfall pattern, casting a threat on the farmers production of the country’s staple food.

The rain season, which is usually the water feedstock for maize production has been erratic.

This is amid the proclaimed increased fertiliser and seed input made available to the farming community through the Farmer Input Support programme.

Usually, the rain begins in October with intense and then winds up in March-April of the following year, with the maize crop ready for harvest.

But this season the rains have only intensified in the later part of the season

The REUTERS reports that Agriculture minister, Emmanuel Chenda has since expressed concern over the situation.

Zambia's maize production in the 2010/2011 season was projected to rise to over 3 million tonnes from the 2.8 million tonnes produced in the 2009/2010 season, a crop forecast showed last year.