Rural Electrification Facing Challenges

By Maimbolwa Mulikelela

THE rural electrification project in Zambia is based on the concept that affordable hydro electricity will improve people's standard of living in rural areas at the same time, enhance economic competitiveness of the agriculture, education and health sectors.
But electric power alone is not enough to uplift farming activities in the rural areas especially when the costs of taking power to different farming communities remain unfavourable to small-holder farmers.

Rural electrification has not halted or checked the continued migration of rural people from the rural areas to the city nor did it stop the decline in the total number of family farms.

With the electrification of rural areas, agro-processing is expected to be stimulated, add value to agricultural products, minimise crop losses, raise incomes and improve living standards.
It will also check the rate of deforestation because firewood is the main source of energy in many rural settings and even some urban households. Firewood and charcoal account for almost 93 per cent of Zambia's total energy consumption.
However, rural farmers require more energy than city dwellers to manage their various production activities hence the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has helped to offset the extra cost involved in bringing power lines to the rural areas as evidenced by the K4.9 billion spent to establish electricity infrastructure in Shimukuni and Kaparu areas.

The enthusiasm that greeted the introduction of electric power in Shimukuni in Chibombo District in Central Province clearly demonstrate that electricity is not only used for lighting and households purposes, but allows for mechanisation of many farming operations such as threshing, milking, and hoisting grain for storage as well as for irrigation.

A marketeer at Shimukuni market Margaret Musonda is of the view that the process of putting up power lines in rural and remote areas should have not only ended at the market place but extended to farming communities to enhance crop production.
Zambia's small-scale agricultural sector has historically lacked infrastructure and production investment. This means that the sector is highly underdeveloped and yet offers considerable potential if large investment was supplied such as having less costly electricity infrastructure that would support farming activities.
Ms Musonda attributed Zambia's failure to exploit its agricultural potential to lack of electricity to operate machinery and equipment, effective and affordable hydropower that can promote farming activities in Shimukuni area.
According to Ms Musonda, the electricity infrastructure mounted by the Government targeting schools, health centres and market places are not adequate because the agricultural demand for electricity is growing rapidly in rural areas.

Although, it is the responsibility of the Rural Electrification Authority to increase access to electricity from the current three per cent to 15 per cent by 2030, cheaper modalities should instead be employed to address the bottlenecks that are stopping Zambians from having their homes electrified.

For example, in Shimukuni area, REA has mounted power lines up to the market place and thereafter it becomes the duty of Zesco to connect the rest of the rural community at a fee.
Ms Musonda grows a variety of vegetables which she sells at Shimukuni Market and has plans of diversifying into poultry farming if connection charges were much more accommodating for the farmers.
"Our concerns are why the Government should put up power lines only along targeted places leaving out smallholder farmers to fend for themselves . With unfavourable connection costs it is difficult to even consider electrifying my small farm," she said.
The high electricity charges have shattered Ms Musonda's livestock business plans due to lack of power to support her project.

"Perhaps we will continue with the project some other time when rates are conducive for us. we are, however, happy to have at least electricity at our market and we are thankful but note that agriculture development is key to sustainable growth," she said.

To Shimukuni Basic School deputy head-teacher Nickson Sikuteka, electricity brings great opportunities and a new dimension for the education and agriculture sectors.
With the advent of electricity, people have become more exposed to change and new ideas. The means of communication are changing, with a 'bigger window' to the outside world - and this is a challenging situation for our society. Mr Sikuteka observed that young people read more and also use audio and video media more than the older generation.
Consequently, great opportunities come with great challenges says Mr Sikuteka who expressed concern on inconsistence in the power supply and service delivery of bills by Zesco.
For the school to venture into new projects power supply should be consistent to improve the education standards.
REA's aim is to build electricity infrastructure in areas where the utility company Zesco has never thought of.

We will be able to install a pump, computers and put up a science laboratory for our pupils now that we have electricity and we commend the Government for its continued effort to improve the livelihood of the people in rural areas," he said.
Commenting on the project in Central Province, REA project engineer Francis Mulenga said for the authority to enhance electricity coverage in the rural areas there was need to develop capacity to cover more than 1,000 sites by 2030.
"By 2030 we need to complete electrifying more than 1,000 projects in the rural areas. And we believe that the education and health sectors will be enhanced for them to contribute to the growth of the economy," Mr Mulenga said.
Once the projects were implemented it would make the livelihood of the people simple and attract people living in towns to settle and conduct business in the rural areas.