ASSESS DROUGHT SITUATION – HAMUKALE

By Arnel Chitundu

WITHOUT an assessment to indicate the amount of losses that farmers have incurred during the current drought season, it will be difficult for the country to budget for the country’s requirements, an Agricultural Scientist and Economist has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, former Southern Province Minister Dr. Edify Hamukale who is also an agriculture expert said carrying out an exercise to ascertain what farmers had lost was very necessary.

Dr. Hamukale explained that whenever a country faces a disaster of such magnitude, there was need to conduct an emergency crop focus to ascertain areas that were planted, the crop planted, expected yields, estimated loss as a result of the drought to estimate the deficit.

Dr. Hamukale said such an analysis will help the country know what’s expected to be harvested, what is actually harvested and deficit.

“We need to get back to the National Food Balance Sheet, to see what crops were planted, yields sales and what is available for buyers like the Food Reserve Agency,” Dr. Hamukale said.

He said there’s no other way to ascertain losses that farmers have incurred during the drought period.

He added that the planning data is accurate in terms of determining how much food is required for the people even by use of Census.

He reiterated that such an exercise was extremely important, as it was a mandate that fell under the office of the vice president and would help to meet the needs of the people.

Dr. Hamukale said it was important for the Government to look at previous incidents that happened when the country had experienced such a drought, how it was done, areas affected and how much can be provided domestically.

He said with such a planning process, there’s a need to observe social-economic indicators on how people are copying and how long it will last, with substitute crops.

He stated that such a situation, if not well managed, could lead to migration, where people go to other countries that have enough food and security.

“To stop people moving to different provinces in search of food, we need to quickly meet their demand and see how they plan to cope in the absence of state support.

Vice President Mutale Nalumango announced that assessments will be conducted to ascertain the amount of losses farmers who got loans had incurred in collaboration with agriculture stakeholders to conduct thorough assessments of farmers who received loans for agriculture purposes.