Zambezi: Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula-Simushi has appealed to the Disaster Risk Management under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to focus on distributing Kalimbeza rice during seasonal floods and drought conditions.According to Namibia Press Agency, during her State of the Region Address (SORA), Kabula-Simushi highlighted that 46 hectares were planted at Kalimbeza from October 2025 to January 2026, yielding 137 tonnes of Irga and Super rice despite facing challenges. She urged the Disaster Risk Management at OPM to prioritize this rice for drought relief and aid to flood victims to clear stockpiles at the Kalimbeza Rice Project.Kabula-Simushi emphasized the commitment of the irrigation scheme towards agricultural production and food security, evidenced by the N$40 million investment in planting, weeding, and bird scaring during the 2025/26 period. Despite issues, such as the rice sorter remaining unfixed since 2018 and only partial repairs to the processing machine, the project continues to achi eve substantial harvests.She also pointed out that storage capacity is inadequate for the bumper harvests, and the lack of a market poses ongoing challenges. The farm had previously indicated difficulties in getting rice to market due to a broken component in the colour sorter processing machine.Kabula-Simushi expressed optimism about the Zambezi food basket's potential, citing significant progress at the Farm Wenela No. 2029 irrigation scheme, managed by the Namibian Correctional Service, with advancements in infrastructure like pipes, pivots, and pumps.In addition to rice production, she highlighted other regional food security projects, such as the 500-hectare Mango Vuluzi Farm in the Singalamwe area. Supported by the Zambezi Regional Council and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, the farm aims to produce a variety of fruits and already boasts over 2,000 fruit-bearing trees and more than 500 seedlings.