THE EDITORIAL NEWS

  AICCRA ZAMBIA ROLLS OUT SECOND INNOVATIVE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM  .... .targeting seven small and medium agribusinesses to scale up CSA innovations and information to thousands  small scale farmers. By Alfonso Kasongo  AICCRA ZAMBIA has rolled out a second innovative grant cohort with the aim to promote climate smart agriculture in Zambia through climate innovations and  information services. In an effort to strengthen partnerships, AICCRA Zambia has  selected and awarded th ree small and medium agribusinesses, representing seven enterprises with grants for  climate smart agriculture initiatives. Dubbed AICCRA Zambia Agribusiness SME Accelerator Second Cohort,this innovative grant aims to financially energize  agribusinesses so as to enhance the scaling up of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) innovations and climate information services (CIS) among the vulnerable communities in central and Luapula provinces among others. This will not only empower sm...

GOVT IMPLORES AUTOMOBILE PRODUCERS TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT TRANSITION TO EMV  ….as Volkswagen launches showroom at cfao mobility in Lusaka photo for illustration  By Alfonso Kasongo LUSAKA - In an effort to improve the penetration of electric vehicles in Zambia to reduce carbon emission ,government has implored the automobile manufacturing industry to invest in infrastructure that support the electric automobiles as the country plans to transition to the new automobile innovation. However ,Zambia’s shift to electric automobile remains slow as a result of inadequate infrastructure such as charging ports among other challenges. Speaking at the launch of Volkswagen (VW) showroom in Lusaka, Country’s transport and communication minister Frank Tayali says adequate infrastructure and trained workforce is key in enhancing country’s transition to electric vehicles. The minister added “the country is at a pivotal moment in motor vehicle industry …and as government ,recog...

ZAMBIA COMMISSIONS US$340 MLN ANTI-CLIMATE CHANGE PHOSPHATE PLANT By Jeff Kapembwa China-owned Sino Great Group, through its subsidiary Sino Great Chemical Company Limited, and Zambia’s Wonderful Group of Companies Limited have commissioned a US$340 million environmental friendly phosphate producing plant in Zambia,  authenticating United Nations’ call for reduced gas emissions by 2035 to save the environment. Under the United Nations’ global resolve, all member countries should endeavour to collectively and without delay commit to cutting 42 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 in the next decade and save the environment and human life. The UN Secretary General in his warning to polluters categorically called for concerted action by all to save the planet. He urges all players, individual and industry alike, to demonstrate increased ambition and commitment.for reduced emissions to reduce temperature to less than 1.5 d...

 ZAMBIA  APPROVES HIV VACCINE TRIALS .... As the Authority issues 39 GMO Permits Lackson Tonga -NBA CEO By Alfonso Kasongo Zambia has approved a clinical trial of an HIV vaccine to be undertaken by the Centre for  Family Health Research in Zambia (CFHRZ) ,country's biosafety regulator has  announced. The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) Board ,during its extra ordinary meeting held last week, approved the vaccine trial permit application for CFHRZ. The experimental medicine vaccine trial will be administered to People Living with HIV (PLWH). With over 1.3 million people living with HIV (PLHIV), Zambia, t he  southern African  nation   is one of the countries most affected by HIV globally and the pandemic is the leading cause of death in country. The country has an estimate HIV prevalence of  about 11 % between the ages of 15-49,this is according to CDC 2022 report . According to  the press statement released by the Authority communicat...

  KENYAN  FARMERS  MISSED OUT  OVER USD 150 MILLION REVENUE DUE TO DELAYS IN APPROVING GMO CROPS   By Alfonso Kasongo A study has revealed that Kenyan  farmers incurred a fiscal loss amounting to estimated USD 157 million in 5  years as a result of the delays in the approval of genetically modified cotton, maize, and late blight disease- resistant potato,when the crops have the potential to generate USD 467 million in benefits over 30 years for the country . ' The  Alliance for Science launched a groundbreaking report  ,dubbed  Genetically Modified Crops in Kenya: The Cost of Regulatory Delay, offers a critical analysis of the economic opportunities lost due to delayed adoption of GM technology in the Eastern African Nation. The study quantifies the economic damage triggered by the anti-GMO movement as well as delays in the approval and commercialization of genetically modified crops in the Eastern African nation. Fur...

SOLAR ENERGY REMAINS FEASIBLE FOR  ZAMBIA  ...as the country stands to benefit about $2.5 billion from the 800MW solar energy plant -Renewable Energy  Expert. Prof. Prem Jain, expert in renewable energy and environment, also a lecturer at UNZA By Alfonso Kasongo Solar energy remains key and feasible for drought prone Zambia as the hydro-power dependent southern African nation stands to earn an estimated $2.5 billion in 25 years through the successful installation of the 800MW solar power plant compared to coal energy, a renewable energy and environmental expert has revealed. Professor Prem Jain, an expert in renewable energy and environment, also a lecturer at the University of Zambia in his research, says Zambia can absorb more than 800MW of solar power on her national grid, however, warning that the continued over use of the Kariba dam, country's biggest hydro power generation vessel makes the country more vulnerable to climate shocks. Speaking during a science cafe on ...

PROLONGED LOADSHEDDING REDUCES UPTAKE OF FISH,CHICKEN By Alfonso  Kasongo Zambia, like many other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, experienced the El-nino weather conditions, causing a drought which has triggered  power deficit challenges with reciprocal effects on the economy. The drought situation country has sharply reduced country's hydro-power generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW to an estimated 750 MW deficit resulting in 23 hour power outrage-unprecedented load management in the country's history. Fisho Mwale ,a titan of Zambian business sector with ineradicable and illustrious career spanning for over four decades says the impact of prolonged load-shedding has negatively impacted many businesses,including  those dealing in high perishables products. Mr Mwale who is founder and chairman for Yalelo Fish Company,adds that fish business like  any other in food production ,processing and distribution has not been spared fro...

  DSaT,ZaAS COLLABORATE TO HOST FIRST EVER SCIENCE CAFE ON FEASIBILITY OF SOLAR ENERGY picture used for illustration By Alfonso Kasongo Dziwa Science and Technology Trust -DSaT , a non government organisation promoting science communication and advancement of science and technological based solutions to country's socio-economic challenges has partnered with the Zambia Academy of Scientists to host first ever science cafe on feasibility of solar energy with the aim to encourage a broader comprehension of renewable energy across various stakeholders in Zambia. The science cafe ,scheduled for Wednesday,October,16, 2024 in Lusaka, will also place emphasis on bridging the gap between scientific understanding and practical application. Currently,Zambia is grappling with power deficit challenges with reciprocal effects on the economy. The country has an installed hydropower generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW, which has depleted rapidly due to El Nino factors, creating an estimat...

RECENT DROUGHT TO TRIGGER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MALNUTRITION RATES IN ZAMBIA  ...as nearly 52,000 children,estimated 112,000 women to be affected next year.   Rice fields in the Zambezi  flood plains of Western province showing dryness due drought  drought (pic courtesy of Radio Liseli) By Alfonso Kasongo  Zambia, like many other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, experienced the El-nino weather conditions, causing drought which triggered about 100 percent crop failure in 84 of 116 districts in the country. However, the recent drought is likely to worsen the malnutrition levels in the country with nearly 52,000 children under the age of five in four provinces at risk of developing wasting, a form of lethal malnutrition-next year if no preventive measures are employed, a survey by Zambia’s National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) has revealed. Another 276,000 children of  the same age group will have moderate w...

  LOCAL SUBSCRIPTION IN GREEN BONDS LOW ...only 10% local firms fully subscribed to the first CEC $54 million tranche. By Alfonso Kasongo  As Copperbelt Energy  Corporation Company strives to actualize its green energy generation ambitions through Zambia’s firstever Green Bond, local subscription to the $200 million green loan on the  capital market continues to be low. Currently Zambia,is grappling with power deficit challenges from her hydropower dependant sources. The country has an installed hydro power generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW-now depleting rapidly by El Nino factors and created an estimated 750MW deficit.  Unless imports coupled with off-grid power supplement, the country may face daunting challenges to supply the mine’s 55 percent demand with 45 % percent shared by other end-users-many now affected by the over 12-hour power outage. In effort to supplement to hydropower, On December, 5th 2023, CEC announced the registration of its green...

  ZAAB QUESTIONS  GOVERNMENT'S SILENCE ON PBR BILL  By Alfonso Kasongo  A collaborative network of concerned citizens, civil society groups, faith and farmer-based organisations, working together to strengthen the growing movement for agroecology and food sovereignty has questioned government's failure to avail the proposed new Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) Bill.  Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) maintains that controversial Bill is inappropriate for the country and must not be enacted as it aligns the country to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) 1991 standards. The Consortium fears that once proposed PBR Bill is enacted in its current form, the new seed law may trigger price increase and corporate capture of seeds, as well as  country's food system.  The Alliance argues that government through the Seed Control  Certification Institute SCCI  has never presented the actual changes...

  KARIBA DAM MAY RUN DRY-OFFICIAL ...30% (2, 400 billion cubic litres)-water for generation available’ By Jeff Kapembwa/ Zambia Informer  Zambia has a paltry 30 percent of the 8,000 billion cubic litres of water is remaining in the Kariba Dam to contribute to power generation in Africa’s second leading copper producer until the next rain season, a senior power utility official says. Zambia and Zimbabwe were allocated 16,000 billion cubic litres of water for power generation this year and the former is remaining with a paltry 2,400 billion cubic litres of water to tap from the more than 64-year-old-man-made lake available for power generation, a severe test for the country with over four months before the anticipated rain season. Zambia has an installed hydro power generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW-now depleting rapidly by El Nino factors and created an estimated 750MW deficit.  Unless imports coupled with off-grid power supplement, the country may face daunting chal...

SECOND AICCRA ZAMBIA ACCELERATOR GRANT MECHANISM TO BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG THE 'MISSING MIDDLE ' By Alfonso Kasongo Zambia’s agriculture transformation agenda to align it to climate variability is moving in a realisation trajectory as IWMI in partnership with AICCRA is scheduled  to unveil a second phase of the AICCRA Zambia Accelerator Grant Mechanism. The new Accelerator Grant is designed to empower SMEs, start-ups, and other key players in the Zambian agribusiness ecosystem to enhance climate smart agriculture.  On 27 October,2021, IWMI with the help from the World Bank launched the first AICCRA-Zambia Accelerator Grant amounting to about US$ 250,000 to support 5 agri-business, that was to innovative agribusinesses and starter-up  partnerships in the country with focus on climate change challenges. The  first Accelerator Grant aimed at boosting climate science support to small and medium agri-businesses and start-ups  in the country where 5 successful...

  ZAMBIA'S NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY POLICY AWAITS CABINET APPROVAL- NBA ...we are positioning Zambia to align with the current biosafety regulatory trends. By Alfonso Kasongo   Zambia’s Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy  enacted in 2003 has been reviewed and submitted to the Cabinet awaiting approval before it is rolled out, National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has disclosed.  According to ISAAA AfriCenter, NBA Communication Officer Sandra Lombe told biotech experts during a workshop held in Lusaka from May 13-15, 2024,that Biosafety Authority is looking forward to developing genome editing guidelines and reviewing the country's Biosafety Act.  "We are positioning Zambia to align with the current biosafety regulatory trends. The NBA also has a mandate to create biosafety awareness and sensitization for different stakeholders including policy makers and government officials. We are revamping this awareness programme," Ms. Lombe remarked.  Further ISAAA...

GENE EDITING A MORE ELEGANT WAY OF TACKLING CROP DISEASES THAN SPRAYING MORE PESTICIDES  . ..CRISPR revolution opens door to ‘disaster-proof’ crops, BBC reports  Traditional crop breeding can be time-consuming and laborious, Brad Ringeisen, the executive director of the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) at the University of California (Berkeley and San Francisco), believes that gene editing using tools like Crispr-Cas9 is the most impactful way of ensuring that crops can withstand disasters, BBC reports.  “It speeds up the innovation cycles. It is a precise tool.” Mr Ringeisen summarises the IGI’s work on disease resistance in crops: “There are a tremendous number of emerging diseases, and climate change is not helping this.” He says gene editing is a more elegant way of tackling disease than spraying more pesticides. As well as disease resistance, the IGI is working on drought tolerance. A rice variety that has been gene edited to reduce the number of pores on leaves, ...