Prolonged dry spell worries East CSPR
By Staff Reporter
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Eastern Province has expressed worry over the current dry spell being experienced in most parts of the province.
CSPR Provincial Coordinator Mackson Nkhoma in a statement to the media said the prolonged absence of rains was disheartening to the farming community.
“There is no doubt that the current dry spell being experienced will negatively affect crops and reduce the crop yield in most districts in the province such as Chipata, Katete, Chadiza, Mambwe, Petauke and Lundazi,” Nkhoma said
“Government should conduct a crop impact assessment on the possible negative effects caused by the current dry spell currently being experienced in the region and other parts of the country. And government must quickly move in and conduct an impact assessment to enable government determine the extent of the damage on crops caused by the current dry spell.”
Nkhoma said once conducted, the impact assessment would enable the government know the food vulnerability status of the province and develop mechanism for food security.
“Our appeal to government is to engage the insurance companies that collected monies from the farmers for crop insurance under the e-voucher programme to visit the farmers and examine the damage caused on the crops so as to begin planning on how to compensate the farmers,” said Nkhoma.
