FOR the past three years Zambia has been receiving normal rainfall seasons which have seen the country record good bumper harvests consecutively for three seasons.
But prior to this, there had been one or two seasons when the country received less rains or faced partial droughts which made Zambia record poor harvests and the nation was forced to import maize.
Importing maize has serious repercussions on the economy as this causes inflationary pressure and puts the local currency under pressure as demand for foreign currency soars.
This is why as Zambia makes efforts to improve its agricultural sector, it is important that serious efforts are made to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture so that even when there is a drought, a robust agricultural production can be maintained.
It is therefore relieving to read that the government has launched a US$115 million irrigation agricultural project funded by the World Bank aimed at increasing yields per hectare.
We welcome this initiative by the government supported by the World Bank because we are very sure that this programme will go a long way in helping to increase agricultural productivity.
What is even more important is that the project is targeting to reach 70,000 smallholder farmers who are expected to increase their yields countrywide.
According to our main story today on our Agribusiness and Finance page, this project will be implemented in Mpika, Mkushi, Solwezi, Chirundu, Mufulira and Petauke which are areas with potential for irrigated agriculture.
Irrigation plays a very critical role in agricultural development and Government is cognisant of this fact, thus its decision to have sought World Bank assistance through this project that the bank board approved in April 2011.
As Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Emmanuel Chenda has noted, the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP) provides not just an opportunity to reduce poverty but also create wealth and more job opportunities.
The PF government has already announced that it wants to diversify Zambia’s agriculture from being dependent on one crop. therefore, the IDSP will help in attaining that objective.
World Bank country director for Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia Dr Kundhavi Kadiresan also says the bank believes that Zambia can attain its goal of diversifying its economy from copper mining but also moving away from focusing on one crop.
This seven-year project comes just months after the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced in January that over 1,400 households in Nega-Nega, Sinazongwe and Kanakantapa are expected to benefit from the US$23 million Small Scale Irrigation Project.
AfDB country representative Freddie Kwesiga said the project that was launched in 2001 in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, would result in the development of irrigation schemes aimed at enhancing food security and household income.
So far, out of the three irrigation schemes, the Nega-Nega scheme is near completion and will enable 160 households to grow vegetables and sugar cane to supply to local supermarkets and Zambia Sugar Company.
We are hoping the World Bank project will also benefit more households in all provinces where it will be implemented.
We wish to commend the government and the World Bank for coming up with such an initiative which will not just help empower households but ensure increased food security and help to create job opportunities.
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