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Government has made a fervent plea to District Commissioners to jealously protect the maize the districts may have and harvest during this season.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, noted that government could not let a single grain go to waste.
Mweetwa had been on a fact-finding mission about the drought, its effects and to assess the maize stock that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) may have in Southern Province.
During the exercise, the Minister paid a courtesy call on Kalomo District Commissioner, Joshua Sikaduli.
The Minister implored the District Commissioners to sensitise the local communities on what it means to declare the drought a natural disaster.
“Water scarcity is the immediate effect of the drought and lack of pasture for livestock and outbreak of diseases should be expected as livestock will be subjected to moving long distances in search for pasture,” he said.
Mweetwa reiterated that as the country realigned its national budget, local authorities should do likewise and realign their budgets to reduce the effects of the drought.
“I want to urge people here in Kalomo and Zambians in general not to go into panic mode by stock pilling maize,” the Minister advised.
He stated that government was implementing a number of drought response measures to ensure food security at household level across the country.
Kalomo District Commissioner thanked Mweetwa for the timely visit and appealed for increased awareness on the effects of drought.
“I want to appeal through you Minister, to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to embark on awareness campaign in the district on what is expected especially preparedness for livestock disease outbreaks anticipated as a result of the drought,” he said.
Southern Province Agriculture Coordinator, Maxwell Choombe, said about 6,100 hectares of land which was ploughed for maize had adversely been affected by the drought in the entire Province.
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