The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have granted Zambia US$67 million to help mitigate the effects of the drought in the country’s agriculture sector.
Republican President Hakainde Hichilema met USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman yesterday at State House where the two exchanged notes on the effects of the prevailing drought situation in Zambia and the Southern African region.
Ms Coleman said Zambia was one of the first nations in the Southern African region to receive support in mitigating the effects of the drought in agricultural sector.
Ms Coleman said the USAID’s relief fund would go towards restocking food storages as well as other agricultural assistance to affected communities.
“These investments will promote sustainable agricultural production and market access; support business and entrepreneurs; and build the resilience of households, communities and the broader food system,” she said.
“We believe that if Zambia is able to realise the full potential of its agricultural sector, it will not only easily meet the food needs of its own people, but could become the center of a regional breadbasket that helps feed the world.”
A total of US$20 million is set to be allocated to immediate food relief as well as cash to be distributed to small scale farmers while half a million go towards accelerating the country’s long-term recovery from the drought.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema expressed his gratitude to USAID for the support rendered as part of the American organization’s “Feed the Future Accelerator” Programme that promises to help in accelerating government’s efforts to mitigating the adverse effects caused by the drought situation.
“We want to say thank you to the acting head of the nation for the cooperation, the work we have been doing together in addition to the global system and our local institutions” President Hichilema said.
“The $67 million is very important to us in line with the agriculture accelerator programme and will assist in other areas including irrigation, water harvest, infrastructure and genetics.”
Mr Hichilema has declared the drought situation a national emergency and has asked for help to help in mitigating the effects.
