Improve early warning alerts for farmers-Zambia Episcopal Conference

By Maybin Augustine Katungulu

 

The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has called on government to improve early warning alerts for farmers.

ZEC President Archbishop Mpundu explains that in view of droughts the country has been experiencing there is need to improve early warning alerts.

Archbishop Mpundu explains that doing so will grantee food and nutrition security for Zambia.

In his communiqué to the Media at the just ended LAUDATO SI Conference the Archbishop also recommended for water harvest promotion and farmers.

" we feel as the  Church government should also look at other alternative sources of energy rather than depending on hydro electricity.  We all know that load shedding and high electricity tariffs have caused a lot of misery among the majority poor Zambians who cannot afford the commodity. This situation has even led to increased deforestation  as a result of charcoal burning".

The Catholic Church in Zambia from Monday 25th and Tuesday 26^th April 2016  held a conference  in Lusaka with the theme; care of our common home, in the context of large scale mining and Agriculture.

The conference was aimed at understanding Encyclical on creation and environment which was issued by Pope Francis last year

His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace explained to the delegates that the planet is an artistic act of God that has been given to human beings as a gift.

Cardinal Turkson also explained that Pope Francis in the Encyclical is recommending people to have a spiritual listening to what has happen to the earth.

There is need to practice environmentally friendly mining and agriculture-Catholic Church

"The Catholic Church in Zambia calls for responsible and environmentally friendly large scale mining mining and agriculture".

By Maybin Augustine Katungulu

The Catholic Church in Zambia has called on for prudence usage and exploitation of natural resources.

Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) President Archbishop George Mpundu says there is need for wise and sustainable management of resources in order to reduce poverty in the country.

Archbishop Mpundu also expressed concern about environmental impact of large scale mining and agriculture.

The ZEC President was speaking in Lusaka on Tuesday 26^th April 2016 during a communiqué to the media at the end of a 2-day Laudato SI Conference on care for  our  common home, in the context of large scale mining and agriculture

Meanwhile the Catholic Church has challenged the mining sector to practice responsible mining which take care of the environment and affected communities.

His Grace George Mpundu who is also Archbishop of Lusaka stated that there is need for mining companies to put measures to reclaim land used for extracting minerals.

According to information obtained by Desire Media Concepts (DMC), mining activities have been causing environmental challenges to communities in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia

Mrs. Bernadette Malamba, a community member in the mining province confirmed to our staffer Maybin Augustine Katungulu that the mining industries are polluting rivers and the environment in general.

Mrs. Malamba who is also Caritas-Zambia member in Ndola lamented that open pit mines are greatly affecting the community adding that they have become death traps

Pope Francis last year issued LAUDATO SI, Encyclical on creation and environment: care for our common home.

And His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace was in Lusaka at the 2-day Conference to explain the document.

Cardinal Turkson told the conference which was attended by the Zambian Catholic Bishops and the lay faith  across the country that Pope Francis in the  Encyclical is recommending people to have a spiritual listening to what has happen to the earth.

His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace explained to the delegates that the planet is an artistic creation   of God that has been given to the human race as a gift.

The high profiled LAUDATO SI, Encyclical  conference was organized by Caritas-Zambia in partnership with Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection.

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.

Climate change is a political issue, especially in African Countries-French Ambassador

As World leaders prepare to meet in France at a Climate Change Conference in December this year French Ambassador to Zambia says climate change is a political issue especially in African countries.

The leaders will be deciding on what radical actions should be put in place to address climate change.

 Our staffer Maybin Augustine Katungulu reports that Ambassador Emmanuel Collins noted that already countries in Africa have witnessed conflicts over land and water bodies.

Speaking in Lusaka at a World Wide globe views meeting Mr. Collins charged that climate change is an issue for peace, security, justice, equity and development

He added that the conference in Paris which will take place this year should find solutions for poor countries who are suffering the adverse effects of climate change.

“It is unfair for developing nations to continue suffering the effects of climate change such as droughts and floods when they actually contribute little to green- house emission which are responsible for this predicament”, he said.

On the other hand Common Market for Easter and Southern Africa (COMESA) says international negotiations on climate change should include a fund met to support small scale farmers in irrigation.

Climate Change advisor at COMESA, Dr.  Mclay Kanyangarara is of the view that such funding will help farmers greatly in adaptation amid the challenges of climate change.

Southern Africa holds second beating famine conference in Lilongwe

23.0.15 

By Maybin Augustine Katungulu

A Southern Africa regional ‘Beating Famine’ conference is to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi between 14^th and 17 April 2015.

 The conference will highlight how widespread land degradation in the face of climate change could affect food security in the region.

According to the announcement on the beating famine website the conference aims to showcase key agricultural and land management practices, such as agroforestry and conservation agro-forestry that can address degradation in Southern Africa.

In all eight out of the ten countries constituting Southern Africa region most people live in rural areas and depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods.

But today agriculture in the region has been threatened by land degradation caused mostly by soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, overgrazing, uncontrolled burning and improper cultivation.

Now, Governments and other stake holders such as civil society organisations have identified the need to conserve land and reverse degradation to restore its productivity and improve the quality of life for people that depend on it for their livelihood.

In the same vein, World Vision, World Agroforestry Centre and other partners are organizing a beating famine conference in Lilongwe, Malawi between 14^th and 17^th April 2015 under the theme “Sustainable Food Security through Land Regeneration in a Changing Climate

A check on the beating famine website indicates that the four days conference will highlight how widespread land degradation in the face of climate change could affect food security in the Southern Africa region.

The Malawi conference is a follow-up to the highly successful 2012 Beating Famine Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya which catalyzed a range of actions and collaborations across East Africa to address food security, resilience and livelihood issues and opportunities.