Govt to halt relief food distribution in most areas

The Zambian government has decided to stop its distribution of relief food in certain areas due to vastly improved harvests, although it will continue to assist vulnerable people in areas short of food. Last year Zambia was among six southern African countries hit by severe food shortages, leaving 2.9 million people dependent on food aid. However, this year's harvests have improved significantly, to the extent that the government recently also banned maize imports to protect local prices. Agriculture Minister Mundia Sikatana told IRIN on Wednesday: "Our decision to stop the distribution of relief food is based on facts that the areas that were receiving food aid can now feed themselves. Following a meeting between the disaster management authorities, the vice president and stakeholders, including NGOs, it was decided that we will continue to distribute [food and inputs] to vulnerable people who have no means for various reasons, and have had bad crops. "We agreed on coordination between stakeholders to identify areas of need. We don't want people to sell their harvest and then say the government must feed them. We can't afford to have a situation like this. But it's not to say we will abandon the vulnerable who fall under our responsibility." Sikatana said areas still in need included Gwembe in the south, where a cyclone destroyed crops earlier this year, Senanga and parts of Mongu in the west, Chama and Luangwa in the east, Zambezi in the north west, and parts of Central Province, where supplies have to be flown to inaccessible areas. The government's ban on maize imports, to prevent "killing" the local market, still stands, he added. There was also a hold on exports until the government was certain it would not face a deficit this year. "We are convinced we are on track this year, but we want to avoid a deficit at all costs." After consultation with chiefs, he said it was established that farmers now needed assistance to purchase irrigation equipment, like treadle pumps, and for the construction of water canals. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also scaled down its food aid in Zambia, but will continue to provide food for about 500,000 people, mainly in the south, WFP regional spokesman Mike Huggins told IRIN.