Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe, says the provincial administration has identified over 31, 000 hectares of land in water frontages that could be used for immediate winter maize production.

Officially opening the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) Meeting at Nkrumah University in Kabwe, Mr Mwanakampwe said according to preliminary assessment by the department of agriculture in the region, more than 70 percent of the maize hectarage planted, have been destroyed due to drought.

He noted that in order to avoid hunger, the provincial administration is engaging some dealers to provide irrigation equipment to small scale farmers to allow for all year-round farming.

The Permanent Secretary has called on the heads of government departments, especially the District Commissioners to help identify the affected residents and provide possible solutions.