Zambia: El Nino threatens agriculture

“The situation observed since January 20, 2024 is likely to persist throughout February, particularly in southern regions,” Nzovu said, adding that crops such as maize and soybeans are particularly vulnerable to reduced rainfall. , as they require adequate humidity during crucial stages of their growth. Current conditions pose a threat to food security in the country, he notes. The minister urged farmers to implement measures to optimize water conservation and ensure good soil management. Separately, the minister expressed concerns over falling water levels in major dams including Kariba, Kafue Gorge and Itezhi-Tezhi, warning that this is expected to lead to a decline in power generation and an increase in outages current. Several countries in southern Africa have been facing ...