IRRIGATION CRUCIAL IN AFRICA-COMESA

 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) says irrigation is crucial for sustainable food security in African countries .

COMESA climate change advisor Dr. Mclay Kanyangarara explains to Maybin Katungulu  that governments and cooperating partners should seriously consider supporting small scale farmers in irrigation technologies.

" As COMESA we have been talking and advocating that governments and cooperating partners to seriously invest in irrigation. In this case a farmer will be able to produce even in the absence of adequate rainfall. It is obvious that doing so will ensure sustainable food security. Now you must understand that here am talking about supporting small scale farmer who is a major contributor to national food basket', says Dr. Kanyangarara.

Meanwhile Dr. Kanyangarara also advises farmers to adopt methods aimed at managing water for crop production.

He says water harvesting is such an affordable technology which can help small scale farmer produce enough even in the absence of adequate rainfall.

"There are also available means or let me say technologies which a farmer can use to manage water for crop production. For instance water harvest should be practiced, here a farmer just needs to dig basins and water will be trapped at plant level. I must agree that here in Zambia the technic is wide spread among the farmers", Dr. Kanyangarara explains.

The change in the climate is a serious challenge on crop production especially in African countries where majority small holder farmers depend on rain fed agriculture.