Dry spell worries farmers

SMALL-SCALE and Peasant farmers in Chipashi, Chankalamo and Minsaka area of Kamfinsa constituency are worried at the continuous dry spell and are fearing that if it continues, the area could experience serious hunger.

The farmers, some of whom have already planted maize worth more than K5, 000, said it was devastating to see no signs of rains in December when previously, this was a month of rains and farmers were motivated to go and plant because of good rains.

Ms Joyce Phiri , a 56 year old widow of Chipashi area, said good rains and early delivery of agricultural inputs had in the past resulted into good harvest with herself recording between 180 to 200 bags x 50 kilogrammes of maize

Ms Phiri, however said she was not sure of how many bags of maize she may harvest with the continuous dry spell especially that this had continued after planting seed worth more than K5, 000.

“We are worried at this dry spell because this is December, and as you know is a month of rains, but nothing promising. Is this climate change which people talk about or what ?

Other farmers expressed the same concerns over the continuous dry spell and their fear is that if it continued, the country may experience serious hunger next year.

Ms Jennipher Bwalya, Ms Eustace Zulu and Ms Mary Tembo said the area has been an agricultural area and most people who were farming there were retirees from either the mines or from government.

Ms Bwalya said if the dry spell continue, then its effects on the farming community in the area and Kitwe in general may be devastating.

“The effects of the continuous dry spell may be devastating because there will be serious hunger in Kitwe and I can tell you that the worst enemy of mankind is hunger and poverty,’’ She said.