Drought Strikes Zambia

Total Crop Loss in Petauke District

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On February 9, 2024 Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema declared the drought in his country a national disaster devastating food production, safe drinking water, and power generation. The drought has destroyed nearly half of the maize nationwide, the primary staple crop and food source. In the Petauke District the prolonged dry period occurred during the crucial flowering stage resulting in total crop loss. The ZIAP Zambia team are scouting fields where ears from 36 plants are harvested from each field. A current drought result is pictured. This compared to approximately 60 pounds of shelled corn for the same stand in Iowa. Zambia is experiencing the driest rainy season in 40 years.

 

Crops planted in December 2024 germinated after a brief rainfall, raising hopes for a good harvest. But persistent 90-degree temperatures and a month without rain quickly withered the young plants. Farmers replanted their fields, only to face a second dry spell later in the season. These repeated crop stresses have deepened food insecurity in Zambia, where more than one-third of children under age five are stunted and nearly half the population cannot meet their minimum daily caloric needs.

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Drying of safe water sources is impacting human and animal health, increasing the likelihood of waterborne disease. The country is just recovering from a cholera outbreak beginning in 2023. Lack of drinking water and adequate pasture will place pressure on livestock populations.