The report identifies the irrigation potentials, gaps and needs that exist at national level for paddy rice production. The analysis carried out in the outlook will form a basis for enhancing water resources management in paddy fields. The report addresses all stakeholders involved in the sector, including technicians, researchers, and …
Foot and mouth disease has broken out in two districts of eastern Zambia, with over 1,000 animals affected so far, state-run news agency reported on Tuesday. The highly contagious viral disease has broken out in Vubwi and Lundazi districts, forcing the government to restrict the movement of animals in the …
Victor Chenda Mpanga, 39, knows his livelihood depends on the forest, but like many others eking out a living in Zambia's vast woodland, he had little choice but to help destroy it. Mpanga was a full-time farmer, but poor yields due to unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change forced him …
THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has released $400,000 to supplement the Government's effort in the fight against the fall armyworm in some parts of the country. FAO country representative George Okech said the armyworm was a permanent habitant in the crop field that posed a threat to crop yields …
Scientists from an international maize research organization said Thursday that a deadly maize disease that has ravaged farms across eastern Africa since 2011 has been contained. Boddupalli Prasanna, director of global maize program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, said the maize lethal necrosis disease (MLN) is under …
ABOUT 30 percent of crops planted this farming season in Southern Province have gone to waste due to a prolonged dry spell. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture availed yesterday, some crops have been partially affected while others have almost permanently wilted, negatively affecting 39 percent of …
Zambia’s agricultural sector represents the backbone of its rural economy and holds great potential for the entire country. Zambia’s agriculture sector faces challenges and is likely to grow more vulnerable as a result of climate change and risk. At the same time, land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and …
Although agriculture accounts for only 8.2% of the Republic of Zambia’s gross domestic product (GDP), almost half of the country’s economically active population works in the sector. Climate change poses a grave risk to the growth and sustainability of Zambian agricul ture. Since 1960 average temperatures have increased 1.3° C, …
Mangochi — Lack of coalition and coordination among African leaders are the major causes of loss of billions of money in the mining industry for the continent, African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (Afrodad) revealed on Friday. The Network made the revelation in Mangochi during the closing of …
Southern Africa is expected to receive erratic rainfall in the 2018/19 agricultural season, according to the latest outlook produced by regional climate experts, who have predicted that seasonal rainfall will be "normal to below-normal" across most of the region. The consensus forecast produced by the 22nd Southern African Regional Climate …
In response to rising demand, several new power plants have been commissioned, including the 300 MW Maamba coal power plant and the 120 MW Itezhi Tezhi hydropower plant in 2016. Subsidies, particularly in the form of under-recovery of electricity sector revenues caused by below-cost pricing, have led to electricity sector …
Evaluations of social protection interventions across Africa often register significant success in improving household food security indicators, but little or no improvement in individual nutritional outcomes. One reason is under-coverage of poor people; another is the low value of social transfers. This paper reviews experiences with social protection in six …
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has finally agreed to resettle 86 families of Nyanji area in Chingola whose houses have been cracking for over 20 years due to mining activities at Nchanga Mine. Nchanga Member of Parliament Chali Chilombo has disclosed that his office has received correspondence from KCM that the …
From an app to diagnose disease on Zambian farms to Tinder-style matchmaking for Senegalese land owners and young farmers, young coders have been finding solutions to hunger in the first Africa-wide hackathon on the issue. Eight teams competed in the hackathon, organized by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) …
THE Southern African Development Community has recorded a 40% increase in malaria cases since 2015. Former Namibian health minister Richard Kamwi, who is the Elimination 8 (E8) ambassador, last Thursday stressed the need for collaboration and unity, not only to treat cases of malaria, but also to eradicate it. This …
COPPERBELT Minister Japhen Mwakalombe says Government is investing close to US$1 billion in improving access to water and sanitation in the province.Outlining projects on water that Government is putting up in the province, Mr Mwakalombe said Government attaches importance to the people on the Copperbelt. Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company …
Climate change is projected to have serious impacts on the agriculture of southern Africa, affecting food availability, creating local production shortfalls and resulting in rising commodity prices. This report highlights the risks to agriculture and food systems that may occur in two counties of the region, Malawi and Zambia. The …
Africa's ancient baobab, with its distinctive swollen trunk and known as the "tree of life," is under a new and mysterious threat, with some of the largest and oldest dying abruptly in recent years. Nine of the 13 oldest baobabs, aged between 1,000 and 2,500 years, have died over the …
Energy and development experts from across Africa and beyond have called for renewed urgency in the drive to light up and power the continent. With close to 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, they argue that Africa's power deficit must be considered both a crisis and an opportunity to fast-track …
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved US$50 million framework financing for small-scale renewable energy projects in Zambia, which will help diversify Zambia’s energy generation heavily reliant on hydro-electricity. Facing a serious electricity supply deficit due to recent droughts, Zambia’s Government launched the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff …
Vision Africa Regional Network (VAREN) has built 223 toilets in 53 Community schools in Luapula province at a cost of 2.3 Million Kwacha. Organization Executive Director Jackson Mwenya says the toilet facilities have been built with the support of UNICEF and DFID in Mansa, Chembe and Milenge district Mr. Mwenya …
