15 December 2009
One of the major effects of climate change is unpredictable weather patterns. Over the past few years Zambia has frequently been hit by drought and floods and this has posed serious challenges to agriculture, which is a major source of livelihood for most of the country's people.
In 2001/02 a severe drought showed how devastating the impact of climate change can be on national and household food security. Nearly half the population was affected, largely because preventative measures could not be put in place early enough and relief and recovery operations were hindered by a lack of reliable information. With climate change likely to increase the frequency and severity of droughts and floods in Zambia in coming years, more effective early warning systems are becoming ever more important.
Surveys provide a solution
One way to address this issue is through the Crop and Livestock Monitoring project. To implement this project, DFID provided support to the UN’s anti-hunger agency, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The project works by monitoring the progression of the agricultural season and raising red flags whenever any danger is sensed. It collects data on crop production, maps differences between expected and actual maize yields and conducts questionnaires with small holder farmers.
The project initially ran in 41 districts, but with the success of the initial surveys the government of Zambia requested additional funding to bring the project to all 72 of the country’s districts. To ensure sustainability, the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was encouraged to take ownership of the project.
The Ministry is now responsible for meeting the operational costs of the project in all districts nationwide. In the budget of each district, funds are set aside specifically for the project’s activities. "The project has made the average Zambian farmer more aware of the changing environment,” says a spokesman for the Ministry. ”They can now seek technical advice before planning their agricultural year."
There remain a few challenges that the project must overcome to produce high quality surveys that can support emergency response activities. These include staffing shortages and problems with the dissemination of data. However, now that the government of Zambia has taken ownership of it, the project is viewed as a long-term, sustainable one that is worth investing in to strengthen the country’s defences against climate change.
Facts and stats
- DFID provided funding of £308,000 over three years (2006-2009) to the FAO to support this project. This focused mainly on activities that would improve delivery, such as technical support, capacity building, and equipment.