Moses Mumba

Where was the photo taken?
Choma district, Zambia

Describe photo, travel experience or connection to CARE values.
This photo shows cattle scavenging for little dried pasture caused by 2018/19 drought in Choma district of southern province of Zambia

The 2018/19 drought has been described to be the worst since 1992. The drought has been caused due to below than normal rainfall received in the southern part of Zambia. In a normal rain season Choma district receives up to 800mm of rainfall. During the just ended rains season ( Oct 18 to Apr 19) , the district received just 29 days of rainfall totalling 229mm. The low rainfall has affected pasture for animals, crop yields and water for drinking.

The effects of climate change are becoming real for the people of southern province. Rains are coming late and stopping early. The root causes include deforestation, poor farming practices and poor range management.

CARE international in Zambia is implementing an integrated agriculture, health and water and Sanitation project funded by the EU. The project aim to improve nutrition status for children below two years and , pregnant and lactating mothers. Zambia has some of worst levels of stunting in the world at 40%. Stunting affect child development.

In the period of last week of May 2019, a Care Zambia team undertook a scooping mission to assess the magnitude and impact of the drought. The team also engaged the district local government to discuss interventions in the short, medium and long term.

In the short team , relief food and water for animals and people is urgently required to avert looming hunger and death of livestock. People of southern province rely on rain fed crop production and livestock rearing. In the medium to long term, interventions to reverse causes of drought are needed. During the scoping mission, the Care team engaged technocrats and communities to identify interventions. Among the priority interventions needed are promotion of climate smart agriculture practices, water storage infrastructures, strengthening crop and livestock markets, and range management.