Zambia May Lose 40% Maize This Year Due To Army Worms

Dr. Zitsanza (left) analysing the fall army worms in the lab

By Paul Shalala in Ndola

The International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa has warned that Zambia may lose upto 40% of its maize yield this year due to the invasion of army worms.

International Red Locust Control Organisation Chief Scientist Dr. Eliot Zitsanza says according to the organisation's assesment so far, upto 40% of maize will be destroyed if much effort is not put to reduce the spread of the pests.

"Our preliminary assesment shows that the current invasion will impact on national food security in Zambia. Between 30% and 40% of the crop will be affected. We advise farmers to keep spraying their maize because the pests are destructive," said Dr Zitsanza in an interview in Ndola.

He has disclosed that Zambia has been invaded by a new pest called Fall army worm which is different from the African army worms which wrecked havoc across the country in 2013.

Dr Zitsanza says the fall army worm originates from the Americas and it was probably brought to Africa through trade.

"From our laboratory analysis, the current pests are not African army worms but fall army worms. They differ alot. African army worms are darker while the fall worms are lighter. In terms of feeding habits, the fall worms eat the upper part of the maize were it grows while the African army worms usually eat leaves," he said.

Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Agriculture sent samples of the army worms to the International Red Locust Control Organisation's laboratory in Ndola for tests.

The aim of the tests was to find out what kind of creatures they are and what interventions can be made.

And according to data from the organisation, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria have been hit by the fall army worm invasion.

This has led to concern in Zambia whose staple food is maize.

On Monday, Zambia's Vice President Inonge Wina described the destruction by the army worms as a national crisis.

So far, six of the 10 provinces of Zambia have been attacked by the army worms.

Central and Copperbelt provinces have been worst hit.

Countries where the organisation operates

Over the past week, government has been flying chemicals to all the provinces for further distribution to farmers to fight the fall army worms.

This has been done through the help of the Zambia Air Force.

And yesterday, President Edgar Lungu enlisted the Zambia National Service to the fight against the fall army worms.

This has made the response to the creatures robust with other agencies already engaged in the operation.

The International Red Locust Control Organisation is an inter-governmental institution which gives early warning to member states on the invasion and spread of pests.

The organisation, which is headquartered in Ndola (Zambia), conducts aerial surveillance of these pests and laboratory examination of creatures to offer advise to member states.

With helicopters stationed at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, the International Red Locust Control Organisation conducts periodic checks on invasive pests in the region.

Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are members of the organisation.

Zambia's US$4.2 Million Irrigation Project Kicks Off

By Paul Shalala in Luanshya

Senior officers at the project site

The World Bank has funded the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) to a tune of US$ 4.1 million to set up 21 center points countrywide which are expected to irrigate over 100 hectares of land.

Under the Irrigation Development Support Program run by the ZCS, this funding is aimed at boosting Zambia's food security and reduce hunger.

The installation of these center pivots has already commenced and expectations are that the pivots will be able to produce maize and other crops year round.

Zambia's staple food is maize and the commodity sometimes becomes scarce due to the over reliance of rain water for growing the crop.

One site where the center pivots will be installed is Luanshya District on the Copperbelt.

There, a contractor is already on site and works have commenced.

The Zambia Correctional Service has already dug trenches and cleared the land where the four pivots will be installed.

Greenline Agricultural Service, the company which is installing the pivots, has started installing the first pivot which is expected to be complete within seven days.

"We are finishing the first center pivot within seven days. The remaining three will also finish within a month. We want to hand over this project to government as soon as possible," said Alfred Simfukwe, Greenline Agrultuural Limited Managing Director. 

This project will cost US$1.4 million.

Zambia Correction Service Commissioner General Percy Chato recently visited the Chitwi Prison Farm in Luanshya where the center pivots are being installed.

Trenches have already been dug

Mr Chato said the project is expected to triple the service’s annual output of maize production which is meant to feed prisoners and some surplus sold to the public.

He said once fully operational, the 21 center pivots will help in the production of maize throughout the year and will help reduce mealie meal prices and shortages of the staple food.

"We want to be a major contributor to food security in the country. At the moment, our contribution to national maize output is minimal but when all the 21 center pivots start working, we shall be producing maize in hundreds of hectares," said Mr Chato.

The Zambia Correctional Service was formerly known as the Zambia Prison Service.

Initially, the institution was running farms to feed prisoners but in the recent years, it has gone commercial.

In Kabwe, where the ZCS headquarters are based, the institution runs a milling plant which produces thousands of bags of mealie meal.

ZCS is even running a retail shop in Kabwe where the commodity is sold to the public.

Zambia Calls For Affordable Food Prices

By Paul Shalala in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Zambian government says there is need for African states to find better strategies that will make food prices affordable to all Africans on the continent.

Leader of the Zambian delegation to the three day meeting of Senior officials meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries in Ethiopia, Derrick Sikombe says the strategies must also ensure that there is price stability and stability of income for farmers.

Mr Sikombe, who is also Chief Agricultural Economist in the Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia, says there is also need to provide services such as electricity, water and sanitation in rural areas in order for agricultural production to be increased.

He said this when he addressed the plenary session of the senior officials meeting at the African Union Headquarters this morning.

Mr Sikombe added that knowledge and skills in food processing and preservation must be made readily available in Africa so that people engaged in agriculture can help increase productivity.

Meanwhile, Uganda has called on African countries to enact laws that will regulate and promote nutrition in all AU-member states.

According to the submission by the Ugandan delegation to the meeting, enforcing laws such as guiding each district to produce a minimum amount of a certain crop can help boost nutrition levels in each country.

And the Zimbabwean delegation has proposed the prioritization of strategic food reserves as a way of ensuring food security.

According to Zimbabwe, food reserves maintain a balance in times of need and therefore governments must spend more money in maintaining them. 

But Sierra Leone has complained that most of its youths who are based in urban areas are shunning the villages due to lack of basic services.

The Sierra Leonean delegation says since the country emerged from war over a decade ago, basic services are non-existent in rural areas and youths can not take part in agriculture because they do not like rural areas.

The three day senior officials meeting has attracted agricultural officials from all African countries who are preparing resolutions that will be adopted by Agricultural ministers during the Joint Ministerial Conference on Agriculture which will take place on Thursday and Friday this week in Ethiopia.

Agriculture Ministers from across Africa are later this week expected to converge at the African Union headquarters to discuss agricultural issues as part of the Year of Agriculture and Food Security.

Zambia will be represented by Agriculture Deputy Minister Greyford Monde who is expected in Ethiopia tomorrow.

Spending On Agriculture up 7% After CAADP Launch

By Paul Shalala in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The African Union has disclosed that public spending on agriculture in Africa has risen by over 7% following intensive efforts by the continental body to boost the agricultural sector through initiatives like the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, says the increase in spending is commendable but much more must be done on the continent.

She adds that for transformative growth to be realised through the agriculture sector, the marginalised, vulnerable, women and young people must be taken care of so that no one is left out.

Ms Tumusiime says AU-member states must ensure they tackle all challenges in order for transformative growth to take place on the continent.

She says 2014 being the year for Agriculture and Food Security, more needs to be done to ensure that this sector which employs over 75% of Africa's workers improves livelihoods and transforms lives.

Ms Tumusiime said this during the official opening of the three day senior officials meeting on agriculture, rural development, fisheries and aquaculture at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning.

Meanwhile, the meeting has attracted experts, government officials and organisations from across the African continent who are expected to come up with a policy framework and recommendations ahead of the Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture which will take place from first to second May this year.

Senior officials and experts from Zambia's Ministry of Agriculture are also attending the senior officials meeting.

Zambia's Agriculture Deputy Minister Greyford Monde is expected in Addis Ababa on Wednesday to represent Zambia at the joint ministerial conference.

Mr Monde, together with other Ministers of Agriculture from across the continent, are expected to adopt recommendations from the senior officials meeting that are expected to boost agriculture on the continent.

The African Union has declared 2014 as the year for Agriculture and Food Security and several activities have been lined up to press member states to prioritise agriculture.

The theme for the year of agriculture is Transforming Africa's agriculture for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods through harnessing opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This year, the continental body is also taking stock of CAADP which was launched in 2003.

40 countries have so far embraced CAADP and signed the compact.

In June this year, the African Union heads of state summit is expected to adopt targets that are aimed at accelerating agriculture on the continent.