Following President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of national disaster as an emergency, Chinsali district has been earmarked to participate in wetland crop production.

This is an effort to cushion the low maize production that is likely to hit the country due to the drought situation in some provinces.

Chinsali District Administration over the weekend put into motion the implementation of the wetland cropping activities under the Food Security Pack (FSP) programme.

The programme will be spearheaded under the chairmanship of the Social Welfare Department while the Department of Community Development will be the secretariat.

During the first urgent meeting called over the weekend, Committee Chairperson Iness Chibesa said the committee has a mammoth task of responding to directives from the top to ensure that work is done accordingly.

She stated that the district has identified areas where wetland cultivation can be done, saying Chinsali is surrounded by streams, rivers and wetlands which can be used for wetland crop production.

“Almost all the 17 wards in the district qualify for wetland cultivation due to abundant water and good soils,” she said.

Ms Chibesa disclosed that further guidelines are being awaited from national and provincial committees on the implementation of wetland crop production.

The committee also proposed a caseload of 3,502 to benefit from the emergency FSP programme.

And District Agricultural Coordinator, Francis Mbati called on all camp officers to continue encouraging farmers to grow a variety of crops.

Mr Mbati said those farmers that will be supported under the emergency Food Security pack, need to understand the concept and ensure that guidelines are adhered to.