admin | September 26, 2016
Farmers in some parts of Zambia are struggling to produce enough food for the country because of erratic weather, late rains, drought, and heavy floods.
Lower harvests of maize, wheat, and sugar cane are pushing up prices for the country’s staple crops.
In 2015, Zambia’s maize production was 3.3 million tonnes. This year, it has dropped to 2.6 million tonnes. A 25-kilogram bag of maize which cost about US$5 in February is now selling for about US$12 in parts of the country.
To survive the drought, experts say most farmers in Zambia will have to switch from maize to drought-tolerant crops such as millet, sorghum, and cassava.
To read the full article, go to: http://news.trust.org/item/20160908075532-5iyjl/
Photo credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko