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FAO predicts poor crop yields in Zambia due to poor rains

Xinhua, January 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday projected that Zambia may record poor crop yields due to a dry spell the country is facing caused by an El-Nino weather pattern.

The United Nations (UN) agency says the poor crop yield could also be triggered by high input productions the country was facing, according to a statement released by the agency.

The statement said slow vegetation has been observed in several areas of the country, including the main producing provinces central and southern provinces.

"The planting of cereal crops for 2015/16 farming season is ongoing under generally dry conditions following poorly-distributed and below-average rains since the start of the cropping season in October last year," the statement said.

The UN agency further said despite the country experiencing some hip-ups in the rainfall pattern, a continuation of favorable rains was expected in north-eastern areas of the country.

On Tuesday, the country's meteorological body advised farmers to plant early maturing crops following the poor start of the rains.

The government has since revealed that it will start assessing the food situation in the country in line with the prevailing weather conditions. Endit