Very Cold In Zambia

Observation: We have been having exceptionally cold nights. The Mitengo Women's Association farm indicates that they are having a hard time with their crops. The Mitengo Women's Association is a farming cooperative comprised entirely of women on Ibex Hill to the east of Lusaka Zambia. They have commercial produce of everything from oyster mushrooms and tomatoes to cassava flour and morenga powder. This winter in the Lusaka Province (and also in the Kawambwa District of the Luapula Province where I am based) has experienced more cold than previous years in recent memory according to the director of the women's association. They have had a slower growth of crops this year.

LEO says: A review of Lusaka Zambia weather station data from the WeatherUnderground indicates that July has received no precipitation and that there were 16 heating days (below 65 degrees) while the average number is 5 days. The minimum temperature for the month was 42 degrees fahreheit or 5.5 degrees celcius. M.Brubaker

See also:

• Reuters article U.N. warns of 'race against time' for 23 million drought-stricken African farmers

• New York Times article Climate Change Hits Hard in Zambia, an African Success Story