Government urges farmers to implement irrigation for sustainable food security

The government has encouraged farmers nationwide to adopt irrigation farming as a long-term strategy for consistent and sustainable food production throughout the year.

Elias Mubanga, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, stated that this initiative aligns with the government’s strategic vision to achieve an annual production target of ten million metric tonnes of maize, despite the challenges posed by climate change.

During the 2025 District Agriculture, Tourism, and Commercial Show in Shiwang’andu, Mr. Mubanga emphasized that Zambia cannot rely exclusively on rainfall, particularly following the severe drought that impacted numerous regions in the recent farming season.

“We have learned critical lessons from the drought. Moving forward, irrigation must be integral to our agricultural model,” he asserted.

The Minister urged farmers to leverage empowerment programs facilitated by various government ministries to access irrigation equipment and training.

Mr. Mubanga also predicted that the recent bumper harvest would likely result in a further decrease in mealie meal prices, providing relief to households and supporting the government’s objective of ensuring food affordability and security under the UPND’s agricultural transformation agenda.

This year’s district show was conducted under the theme “Adapting to Climate Change,” which the Minister indicated should inform every farmer’s practices in light of changing weather patterns.

GroundTruth Zambia | 28th June, 2025.