MPIKA FARMERS FIGHT OVER WATER

WATER scarcity as a result of Climate Change-induced extreme weather events and dilapidated infrastructure have not only become a major constraint for agricultural activities, but have also fuelled serious conflicts in Katongo Kapala area, Chief Chikwanda of Mpika District has said.

The dwindling supply of water from the local Mukugwa River, especially from September to December has created scarcity of the vital resource, thus triggering conflict between farmers growing horticultural crops and those that have invested in integrated fish farming.

In an interview, Village Headman Chilikisha of Chief Chikwanda in Mpika District told The Scoop that with the village’s population rising and climate change bringing more erratic rainfall, competition for scarce water especially during the dry season was growing, leading to serious conflicts among stakeholders.

The tradition leader disclosed that some farmers were engaged in physical fights, leading to serious tension among families.

He said his village, which stretches about seven kilometres, has over 130 households who are involved in crop and fish farming, but the dwindling supplies of water from Mukugwa River had forced 12 fish farmers to abandon their projects.

Village Headman Chilikisha explained that water from Mukugwa River is lost through damaged points along the canal, leading to increasingly inadequate access to water to support agricultural activities of the farmers in the area.

“As the headman of this area, I have received so many cases of water-related conflicts. We have been experiencing water crises and conflicts especially during the dry season with some farmers who are into gardening and those in fish farming, fighting.

“In fact, about 12 fish farmers were forced to halt their aquaculture production because they were accused of using more water for their fish ponds at the expense of gardens,” he said.

One of the residents, Henry Chibale, also confirmed that disputes over water have for millennia served as a flashpoint, driving tension among the residents.

Mr. Chibale narrated that because of inadequate water supply, there had been serious squabbles among community members, resulting in some fish farming activities being halted.