TheDepartment of Community Development in Nakonde district has commenced enumeration for the emergency wetlands cropping programme.
Nakonde District Commissioner (DC) Marvelous Sikapizye has revealed that the enumeration is targeting 2,400 farmer households as beneficiaries for the emergency wetlands cropping programme in the area.
Mr Sikapizye said government has embarked on a number of programmes to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He said the drought situation experienced in the country has necessitated the government to come up with solutions and measures that will help alleviate the hunger situation in the country.
“The government of the Republic of Zambia through the President decided to start an emergency social cash transfer programme in order to address hunger in households. We will soon start giving farmers inputs for the emergency wetlands programme,” Mr Sikapizye said.
He further urged those that will benefit from the programme to ensure that they put to good use the inputs which they will receive.
Meanwhile, during the monitoring of enumeration in the district, Chief Community Development Officer, Aaron Phiri revealed that the packs under the emergency wetlands programme will contain 5kg of maize seed and a 50kg bag of D compound and Urea respectively.
Mr Phiri said those that will venture into gardening will also have the same quantity of fertilizer and a pack of seed.
“This programme is very important given the time that we are in, where the President has declared an emergency. So to try and boost food security, this programme is being undertaken,” Mr Phiri said.
And Muchinga Provincial Community Development Officer, Danford Munjile said the programme is meant for vulnerable but viable households.
Mr Munjile said the programme is meant to uplift the livelihoods of those vulnerable families.
“My message to vulnerable households that will benefit from the programme is to take the programme seriously and not to be tempted to sell these inputs that they will receive,” he cautioned.
