Mzuzu-(MaraviPost)—Minister of Agriculture, Robin Lowe, has assured farmers affected by dry spell in the Eastern and Southern regions of the country that government is already putting up structures which will enable them to resort to irrigation farming.
The minister disclosed the government’s position yesterday when he was responding to questions in the Parliament.
“The team is on the ground because the first information we had was that of Lower Shire ADD, because I actually went there to appreciate the extent of damage. So, we actually engaged the program manager and his team to come up with a concept.
“Through that concept, my ministry can now come up with measures or position on how to assist farmers along those areas. But according to our plans as a ministry, we are putting in place some inputs and irrigation facilities to make sure that since they have lost the summer cropping, they should benefit with the winter cropping,” responded Lowe.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that about 368 thousand of hectares of maize fields across the country have been affected by fall army worms.
According to the Spokesperson for Ministry of Agriculture, Gracian Lungu, said over 700 thousand households are more likely to experience low harvests due to the situation.
Lungu further said the worst hit districts are Chikwawa, Nsanje, Thyolo, Mulanje, Machinga, Mangochi, Salima, Nkhotakota, Mzimba and Rumphi; among others.
In January this year, the Agriculture minister disclosed that the country will realise about 4 million tonnes of maize this farming season.
