Radio Program on the Right to Food

On 20^th February 2025, FIAN Zambia’s Country Coordinator and Zambia Alliance for Women (ZAW) participated in a radio interview hosted by   Pasme 91.3 FM to discuss “The Right to Food”. 

The conversation focused on the 2023/2024 drought, it’s devastating impact on communities, and failure to uphold the right to food.

Despite the declaration of a national drought emergency in February 2024, which acknowledged that over 84 districts had been affected, many communities in Petauke continue to struggle with access to food. In the areas visited, residents remain dependent on rain-fed agriculture with no substantial efforts toward promoting irrigation or diversifying food production. The government’s relief programs, while present, were found to be limited in reach, delayed in implementation, and inadequate in addressing the nutritional needs of households.

One of the major concerns raised was the high cost of staple foods, particularly mealie meal, which remains unaffordable for most households. Furthermore, many of the food security programs in place such Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) are overly focused on maize centric, despite calls for diversification to improve community nutrition and resilience. Farmers must be given the free to choose what crops to grow like sorghum, millet and cassava in order to adapt to changing climatic conditions

There is a growing need to shift toward climate resilient and nutrition sensitive agriculture, particularly by supporting smallholder farmers. These farmers are responsible for feeding much of the country, yet they remain excluded from irrigation schemes and access to diverse seed options. In Petauke, it was evident that the majority of farmers still rely on traditional rain fed farming systems, with no practical alternatives in place when crops fail.

The current food and input assistance models were also found to be complex, with many community members expressing concern over the delays and the insufficient quantity of support provided. Some of the beneficiaries, face challenges in accessing these programs due to lack of information or procedural barriers. There is a need to simplify and scale up these initiatives so they are inclusive, timely, and reflective of the real needs on the ground.

Another critical issue raised was the legal gap in Zambia’s constitutional framework. While the right to food is recognized in policy documents such as the National Agricultural Policy, it is not protected under the Constitution. This means that when individuals or communities face violations of their right to food whether due to poor governance, pollution, or exclusion from state programs there is no clear path for legal redress.

To ensure lasting food security, FIAN Zambia is calling for a comprehensive response plan that can anticipate and address emergencies like droughts and floods. This includes diversifying FISP to support a wider range of crops, expanding social protection programs like Cash for Work and Food for Work, and formally recognizing the right to food within Zambia’s legal and constitutional framework.

FIAN Zambia continues to advocate for a food system that is equitable, inclusive, and resilient where every Zambian, regardless of background or status, has access to adequate, nutritious, and culturally acceptable food