Climate Change Effects cause threat to Zambia's Food and Energy security.

Pictures taken today (March 1^st 2024) by Kwenje Fm journalist White Luhanga showing a bridge on Lundazi-Chama road washed away due to heavy rains.

 

By Raphael Banda

 Climate Change causes threat to food security in the Southern half of Zamba. 

 

To avert such hash effects of climate change in Zambia and elsewhere, planting of bamboo can provide a significant contribution to combatting climate change in rural areas.

Bamboo helps avoid fossil fuel use and reduce deforestation, by offering an alternative, highly renewable source of biomass energy. More also, they offer a sustainable source of bioenergy for the many people who rely on solid biomass for cooking, such as charcoal  but bamboo can be converted into a source of heating and electricity.

In and around the tropics, bamboo is essential to a large number of agricultural and natural environments. Bamboo is essential for the restoration of damaged areas because it can grow on difficult soils and steep slopes that are unsuitable for other crops, it acts as a windbreak, and its robust roots and rhizomes control water flow and stop erosion.

 

On the other hand , Bamboo is a multipurpose, quickly replenishing resource that can be used for a variety of livelihood applications. As other forest resources become more scarce due to climate change, as the need to mitigate climate change forces less reliance on fossil fuels and endangered forest resources, and as research uncovers new applications, its economic role is expected to grow faster both locally and in international trade.

The same has effects of climate change have had a negative impact on the entire southern Half of Zambia as over one million farmers are facing looming hunger. Tus, Yesterday, Republican President Hakainde Hichilema declared the prolonged dry spell a National Disaster.

The President Outlined a number of messures government will take which included but not limited to: Bush burning will be punishable,Defense force instructed to help mitigate hunger situation, Water harvest to start now, Irrigated maize plantation to start immediately,Electricity to be imported and rationed when need be , Government to help farmers that borrowed and also to consider mitigation measures for those whose crop is not insured.

The Platform Block Reporter reached out to one of the seasoned farmers in Lusaka to get his views on climate change and support given to farmers and way forward.Mr. Sausten Phiri sostendavidsp@gmail.com.

In in his small but steady voice explained and suggested the following measures:

“The desire by government to intensify mechanization actualization with a view to enhance crop

production through the provision of agricultural loans, is a welcome move but the information on how to access such financing seem to be the preserve of those who are enlightened. Therefore, the government should have a deliberate policy to translate such information into local languages and the dissemination of information must not be restricted to quasi government institutions but cut across all media houses including NGO s and Faith based organizations, “he suggested.

 

“The proponents of climate change must be proactive to advocate for adaptable and workable solutions by deepening participation of stakeholders for home grown solutions as the dynamics vary from place to place. Climate change forums and/or discussions should not be talk shows but a conduit of sustainable development to benefit the adversely affected,” farmer Sausten Phiri stressed.

Ends//RB

For details and possible collaborations reach our to the author at bandaraphael55@gmail.com.