Let there be balance between maize cultivation, other food crops

By Daily Revelation Editor

Zambia National Service (ZNS) commander Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi has revealed that the service will suspend the cultivation of wheat this year in order to grow irrigated maize.

Gen Solochi says ZNS would put up 1,978 hectares of irrigated maize by the end of July this year with a projected yield of about 15,000 metric tonnes of maize by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

“ZNS will this year suspend the growing of wheat in order to commit all its irrigation equipment to grow irrigated maize,” Gen Solochi said. Therefore, ZNS will put to crop 1,978 hectares of irrigated maize by the end of July this year. With a projected yield of about 15,000 metric tons of maize by the end of the third quarter of 2024.”

When looked at from the angle of increased production for the country’s staple food, this is a move in the right direction. The move by ZNS indicates the administration’s clear policy directive that they are going all out to ensure the growing of maize is prioritised above all the food crops owing to the drought the country has faced and the subsequent declaration of the national disaster by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Of course no one can argue about the very important role maize’s by-product mealie-meal plays in the life of this country. Some may even argue that it is actually one commodity that defines the very life of this nation, no wonder the national strategic role it plays.

Any escalation in the price of mealie-meal actually has the potential to affect the security of this country. So very important so much so that the late great Professor P K Chishala dedicated one of his trademark songs towards it in the famous “Common Man” track.

“Tatuleukuta ubwali bulechepa pantu umutengo wabunga na unina ukuchila amalipilo nabambi tababomba (We are not getting full because the price of mealie meal has gone up, beyond what people are earning and some don’t even work),” one of the lines in the song goes. “…abengi bekala nensala pa lanchi kwaula imyau (Many endure hunger over launch just yawning) … bamo bashunguluka muma stolo kwati pali efyo baleshita (Some loiter around shops as if they are buying something) … Tulekabila ukulya uluchelo, akasuba nechungulo nomba tulefilwa umulandu wamitengo yafyakulya naichilamo (We desire to have breakfast, lunch and super but we are failing because prices for food are too high).”

The government’s priority should therefore be viewed from that spectrum. Every sensible Zambian should pray for these endeavours to succeed so that this nation is not condemned into dangerous destitution. What we are not just sure of is whether these current measures alone will be enough to ensure maize security in the country, because we feel this is just one of the many among the other efforts that should be employed towards achieving the desired results.

There is actually no harm in the administration taking on board some of the suggestions that came from organisations like the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) in terms of employing the many resources to mitigate the effects of the crisis brought about largely by the drought situation. It’s not just the suggestions from UKA, but other political parties, civil society organisations, the Church and general citizenry have all suggested on how things could be improved. Every worthy suggestion must be taken on board.

But we just have one concern with this issue of over prioritising maize production. We know we are in a drought, but it’s important to strike a balance so that in trying to stabilise mealie-meal prices the country does not neglect the growing of other food crops.

ZNS is for instance announcing that they have suspended the cultivation of wheat in order to grow irrigated maize. If others are to follow that thinking we are likely to have a situation where the country will experience escalated prices in bread and buns for instance. Already one loaf of bread is costing on average around K20, and with reduced cultivation, the price will only shoot higher than it is now.

It is a delicate balance that will need to be handled carefully.