By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Government will soon embark on the construction of 15 dams on selected sites of Zambia to promote water harvesting.
Three irrigation projects will be commissioned in Chisamba, Mufulira and Chipepo areas to increase irrigation activities in the country.
Energy and Water Development Minister Dora Siliya said the Government, in collaboration with cooperating partners, had embarked on the implementation of the Zambia Water Resources Project which would see 15 dams built to facilitate water harvesting.
“We will this year be constructing 15 dams in selected sites of the country of Eastern, Western and North-Western Provinces,” Ms Siliya said. “A total of 20 existing dams will be maintained while 300 exploratory boreholes will be developed in all provinces to assist in the assessment of ground water.”
The minister said this during the opening of the stakeholders’ dialogue on water crisis in Zambia at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday.
Ms Siliya observed that crop production would be severely reduced due to prolonged dry spells experienced in many parts of the country so far, hence the need for more efforts to preserve water.
Depletion of surface and ground water resources entailed reduced access to water for other purposes, including manufacturing, tourism, mining, domestic as well as maintenance of environment.
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda said in view of the climatic conditions the country and the region were facing, the Government was in the processing of putting up irrigation schemes in selected parts of the country.
Mr Lubinda urged farmers countrywide to engage in smart agricultural practices such as conservation farming and grow drought-resistant crops such as cassava, sorghum and millet.