Solwezi District has been selected for the implementation of Wetland Agriculture Policy this winter season in response to the prolonged dry spell which has affected parts of the country.
Solwezi Acting District Commissioner Anthony Fulwe confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview today.
Mr Fulwe said the district has applied for a target of 2, 186 farmers that own land near streams and rivers.
“As you are aware President Hakainde Hichilema has declared the drought as a national disaster, as a result, the government has come up with interventions and policies that can help to beef up national food security. One of the interventions is wetland agriculture which is targeting 200,000 vulnerable but viable farmers countrywide,” he said.
Mr Fulwe said the programme will be implemented through the Department of Community Development to ensure that the government helps vulnerable but viable farmers in all the 116 districts.
“Of course, some districts may fall off because the target of this intervention is targeting districts with rivers, lakes, streams and swamps,” he said.
Mr Fulwe said once everything is put in place, the identified farmers will receive five kilograms of white maize seed and other farming inputs for cultivation of winter maize.
“We have already identified areas suitable for the implementation of this intervention, as you know Solwezi district has a lot of streams. We have Kifubwa, Lunga, Mutanda, we have Solwezi river and many more others.
Mr Fulwe added that the idea behind wetland agriculture is to encourage farmers to embrace other farming mechanisms such as irrigation and help to reduce their dependency on rainfed agriculture.
He has urged would-be beneficiaries to put the inputs that will be given to them to good use by ensuring that it is applied to their maize and their maize fields are well taken care of to ensure there is increased productivity.
Mr Fulwe said farmers should also ensure that the harvested crop is well stocked adding that it should not be sold out anyhow to beef up national food security.
