Zambia Unveils Drought-Tolerant Seed Varieties in Fight for Food Security
President Hakainde Hichilema has hailed the inauguration of successful pilot projects for drought-tolerant seed varieties at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) as a crucial step towards achieving food security in the country.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), UPL, and Advanta Seeds, comes amidst a period of extreme weather events in Zambia, with floods last year followed by droughts this year.
“This has been one of the most challenging periods in history for our farmers,” President Hichilema acknowledged. “But we are committed to standing alongside them and providing the tools they need to adapt, grow, and thrive.”
The development of climate-resilient crop varieties is a key component of the government’s plan to ensure Zambia’s food security.
These drought-tolerant seeds offer a beacon of hope for farmers struggling with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
President Hichilema emphasized the importance of collaboration between stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts.
He called for continued cooperation between ZARI, UPL, Advanta Seeds, and other relevant actors to expedite the development and implementation of such projects.
