Sir, – A new $75 million programme announced by Ireland and the US to advance food security in Zambia could not be more timely (Keith Duggan, “Ireland determined to end food insecurity due to ‘memory’ of famine, Tánaiste says”, World, February 7th). I visited Zambia late last year at a time of unseasonally hot temperatures. Since then, the worst effects of El Niño weather patterns have brought erratic rainfall to much of the country, putting this year’s food harvests at grave risk. This week’s announcement by Tánaiste Micheál Martin and USAID administrator Samantha Power of a new fund, to make Zambia’s agricultural systems more resilient to climate stresses, bears the hallmarks of what we come to recognise of Ireland’s Development Programme – relevant, focussed and designed to provide lasting solutions.
At Self Help Africa we’re fortunate to have the support of Irish Aid, the Irish public, and other donors to work alongside local communities, and collaborate with small and medium sized agri-businesses to adapt to the coming climate emergency. Together, we are delivering a suite of solutions, including drought tolerant crops, climate smart farming techniques, and a transition away from the maize, a crop that is highly vulnerable to temperature increases. While there is no “silver bullet” that will combat this challenge, Self Help Africa strongly believes that targeting assistance at smallholder farmers to bolster wider food systems is essential to the future of food production in Zambia, where one in three children is malnourished. This Irish Aid-USAID initiative is to be applauded. – Yours, etc,
FEARGAL O’CONNELL,
CEO,
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Self Help Africa,
Dublin 8.