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At
least 650 000 people in Mozambique are facing food
insecurity as a result of the drought that is affecting
much
of the south and centre of the country for the
second consecutive year, according to data in the Action
Plan for Mitigating the Effects of Drought. The
Mozambican government estimates that implementing this
plan will
cost around $4 million over the next six
months. The
650 000 people at risk live in 57 southern
and central districts, the areas worst hit by the poor
rainfall of the
last two years.
Presenting the plan the National Director of Agriculture
said that in March 2003 the cyclone Japhet
had damaged what little harvest could be produced in
several drought hit districts of Inhambane, Sofala and
Manica provinces. He pointed out that, "In 2003, the
picture of poor rainfall worsened, and the occurrence of
tropical depressions and cyclones has helped push the
number of people facing food insecurity to 650 000". In
general, the rainfall recorded in the 2002/03 growing
season, "was lower than average and distributed
irregularly over the season, particularly from January
to March", he said.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS)
stated
in its latest monthly report that food-insecure
communities in Mozambique's central and southern
provinces could expect some relief in coming months as
preliminary crop assessments for the second growing
season showed positive results. The second cropping
season accounts for 15 to 30% of annual household food
needs and contributes to overall household income. The
picture for the 2003/04 may be mixed due to a lack of
production inputs the report noted. "This is the case
because households in drought-affected areas are likely
to have less seed available this year, both because
their production was low last year, and because they
needed to plant fields more than once where crops failed
due to poor weather conditions," the report states. " It
is
still too soon to determine the potential harvest's
impact
on the food security situation, and it is
important that
there is ongoing monitoring. But
preliminary assessments [for the region] show that the
standing crop is good so far," according to the FEWS NET country representative. Recent light rains
and residual moisture resulting from cyclone Japhet had
created favourable planting conditions,
she added.
However, the FEWS NET report also states that around 659
000 people – 3,8% of the country's population – will
still need food aid, until the next harvest in January
2004 for those in the southern region and in the period
from February to March for those in the central region.
At present the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is trying
to feed up to 750 000 people affected by the emergency
until September 2003. This includes emergency school
feeding, nutritional feeding for children under five and
pregnant and lactating women, food-for-work and
food-for-training activities (including food for
participating in HIV/AIDS training) and general food
distribution. The number is likely to rise significantly
in the period October-March 2004.
The WFP has warned of a break in the food aid pipeline
in Mozambique if the cash resources needed to procure
food either locally or regionally are not immediately
confirmed. The WFP can only cover 100% of needs until
September 2003. After this the pipeline for all
commodities will dry up. The National
Director of Agriculture stressed that plans to increase
food security must address the need for better
management of water resources. The strategy rests on
building or rehabilitating small and medium-sized
irrigation schemes, expanding areas under cultivation,
and
investing in drought-resistant varieties. The FEWS
NET country representative also said that aid agencies
and
NGOs have held discussions on how to address the
current
seeds shortages. |
