Highlights:

⮚Dry Conditions: Most parts of Zambia are experiencing insufficient soil moisture and below-normal rainfall.

⮚Forecast Improvement: An improvement in rainfall is expected from December 14th to 23rd.

⮚Crop Diversification: Practice crop diversification to enhance resilience.

⮚Planting Early Maturing: Plant early maturing varieties as soon as sufficient soil moisture is available.

⮚Pest and Disease Resistance: Prioritize planting pest and disease-resistant varieties.

⮚Avoid Dry Planting: Refrain from planting until adequate soil moisture is present.

⮚Moisture Conservation: Minimize moisture loss by avoiding activities like mechanical weeding.

⮚Pest and Disease Monitoring: Be vigilant for outbreaks and report unusual activity to agricultural offices.

Figure 1: Rainfall Departure from the Normal Period: 1st October to 10th December, 2024