“Zambia lost 1m hectares of white maize due to drought”

By Ellen Hambuba
ZAMBIA lost over a million hectares of white maize in the last farming season due to the El Nino induced drought.

Tourism Minister RODNEY SIKUMBA disclosed this when he shared ZAMBIA’s experience of the drought situation that has hit most COMESA member States.

This was during the 17th COMESA Business Council Forum, held in BURUNDI Capital BUJUMBURA on the sidelines of the 23rd COMESA Heads of State Summit slated for Friday October 31st 2024.

Mr. SIKUMBA told delegates that attended the business forum that 96 percent of peasant farmers were hard hit by the drought disaster.

COMESA Secretary General CHILESHE KAPWEPWE said it is important for COMESA members to look at measures that seek to promote value addition to minerals which the region is currently exporting in raw forms in order to improve on export earnings.