The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Bayer AG, has donated 30 metric tonnes of maize seed to vulnerable farmers in five districts of Southern Province to strengthen food security and improve household resilience.

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‎The maize seed will benefit farmers in Kazungula, Kalomo, Monze, Namwala and Zimba districts, with each district expected to receive about five metric tonnes of maize seed.

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‎Speaking during the handover ceremony in Nyawa Chiefdom in Kazungula, Southern Province Acting Permanent Secretary, Gift Monde in a speech read for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary Yolanta Malunga, said the intervention would help address challenges affecting farmers, including climate variability, prolonged droughts and limited access to quality agricultural inputs.

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‎Mr Monde said agriculture remains a major source of food, income and livelihoods for households in the province, but climate-related challenges continue to threaten production, household incomes and nutrition.

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‎He commended IOM and Bayer AG for partnering with Government and traditional leaders to respond to the needs of vulnerable farming communities.

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‎Mr Monde said the donation has the potential to reach approximately 5,000 farmers through five-kilogram packs or 2,500 farmers through 10-kilogramme packs, depending on the final distribution arrangement.

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‎He urged stakeholders to ensure that the inputs reached the intended beneficiaries and were used productively to improve food production and household livelihoods.

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‎Mr Monde said the intervention also included Bayer vegetable seeds to enable households to establish backyard gardens and engage in small-scale vegetable production for improved nutrition and additional income.

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‎He encouraged women and young people to take advantage of agricultural opportunities, saying farming should not only be viewed as a means of producing food but also as an avenue for enterprise development, income generation and employment.

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‎Mr Monde said the initiative is in line with Government’s broader development agenda of promoting production, economic growth, wealth creation and employment.

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‎He further urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and make use of the training and knowledge-sharing being provided under the programme to improve productivity and resilience.

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‎Meanwhile, Bayer Zambia Country Sales Manager, Rodney Ndou, said the donation was aimed at helping vulnerable farmers prepare for the coming planting season, rebuild their production capacity and strengthen resilience to climate uncertainty.

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‎Mr Ndou said access to quality seed, combined with appropriate agronomic knowledge and practical support, could help farmers manage increasingly unpredictable farming seasons.

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‎He said the contribution formed part of a wider IOM-Bayer global partnership through which more than 225 metric tonnes of seed would be provided to farming communities in Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in 2026.

And IOM Chief of Mission, Keisha Livermore, said the donation will help families to recover, grow and build a more secure future.

“Unpredictable rainfall and prolonged dry spells can reduce harvest and put pressure on households. This is why supporting resilience at the community level is very important,” she said.

She said the support is meant to help vulnerable households with high breed maize seed in order to help strengthen food security, improve livelihoods and rebuild resilience to climate shocks.

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‎Speaking on behalf of Chief Nyawa, Prime Minister Gideon Siapenya, described the donation as a significant contribution towards improved agricultural production.

He said traditional leadership looked forward to productive fields, improved harvests and stronger household food security.

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‎Mr Siapenya thanked Government for its continued partnership with the private sector, saying such collaborations enabled farmers to access important support, including agricultural knowledge and technology.

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‎He said traditional leaders would continue encouraging farmers to take agriculture seriously, not only for household consumption but as a pathway to income generation, improved livelihoods and dignity.

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