Agricultural development needs to be prioritised as food shortages are triggered mainly by drought

An international food policy think-tank urged African governments to spend more on agricultural development, saying that food security across the continent would only be realised when national budgets reflected food production as a priority. "There are some positive signs among senior policymakers, but at the moment there seems to be more articulation [of the need to prioritise agricultural development in Africa] than the actual allocation of funds to support this commitment," the Director-General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) told IRIN. The Washington-based institute has pledged technical support to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), through their expertise, by providing the necessary research and analysis, so that agricultural strategies can be fully realised. The IFPRI advocated for greater support for smallholder agriculture, arguing that small-scale farmers had proved to be at least as efficient as large farms when they received similar support services and inputs like seeds, fertiliser and credit. Research had shown that for every one percent increase in agricultural productivity, poverty was reduced by 0.6 percent. IFPRI research indicates that for sub-Saharan Africa alone, liberalisation of agricultural policies in industrialised countries would add US $3 billion annually in agricultural income. But while micro credit schemes are essential, the institute notes that increased access to banking and financial services is also critical to small farmers. In 2002 food shortages threatened some 14 million people across southern Africa, in a crisis triggered mainly by drought. The situation was made even more severe by rising poverty, HIV/AIDS, and controversial market reforms.

The Government Emergency Management Unit (EMU) in Namibia has reported that the country will be hit harder by drought than in 2002. After extensive countrywide assessments the unit estimates that some 400 000 people might need food aid in the coming months - 55 000 more than last year. According to the EMU's Deputy Director, the Caprivi region tops the list due to both the drought and floods. The southern regions of Karas and Hardap, where there is virtually no grazing for livestock, also face severe hardships. In 2002 government spent N$140 million on drought aid. The EMU's Deputy Director conveyed that the unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, is still determining what is required to meet communities' water needs. Drilling new boreholes, rehabilitating existing ones and the laying of new pipelines are being considered. Although still not finalised, drought aid is likely to consist of food distribution as well as boosts to the Food for Work, Cash for Work, and School Feeding Programme. He further conveyed that the northern regions of Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena will not be able to harvest enough maize and mahangu (millet) to feed people there - and in some areas like the Kavango, there is likely to be only a month's supply. In the farming areas such as Otjozondjupa, an appeal has been made for farmers to sell their cattle and to keep only those which can definitely be sustained. Farmers in the Tsumkwe and Opuwo areas have been identified as needing urgent assistance in this year's drought relief programme. The start of assistance will depend on Cabinet's approval of a drought relief plan.

Prolonged drought has also worsened the humanitarian situation in Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The World Food Programme’s (WFP) Country Representative told IRIN that the situation in Lesotho was deteriorating "after five months of drought". In its latest situation report WFP stated that "there was no significant precipitation in the country between May and August. As a result, winter crops have largely failed and spring cultivation is more difficult in dry conditions and is likely to be delayed". Cereal production was about 60 percent of the five-year average but sharply declining employment opportunities have also reduced peoples' ability to buy food. A joint WFP and Food and Agriculture Organisation Crop and Food Supply Assessment in June estimated that around 32,000 mt of cereal food aid was needed for distributions to targeted households. However, the situation of vulnerable households has deteriorated since then. The shortage of inputs and inflation is hurting the prospects for an agricultural recovery in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Farmer's Union (ZFU) reportedly told IRIN. The country is badly affected by food insecurity as a result of erratic weather, the effect of the fast-track land reform and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Aid agencies estimate that some five million Zimbabweans will require food aid by January 2004. The chief economist of the ZFU comments that "if farmers are provided inputs on time and get the necessary inputs support there could still be an agricultural recovery". There is however a serious shortage of inputs, given the inflationary environment. Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector has been thrown into even further uncertainty after several farmers suspended land preparations until the completion of the current land audit, The Financial Gazette reported. There were farmers in Mashonaland East and West, Matelebeleland and Manicaland provinces that stopped land preparations after a fresh wave of land seizures. These disruptions in the farming activities could bring about yet another era of hunger. The Herald claims that to combat the severe food crisis, government has allocated ZIM $880 million to the Masvingo province in order to feed thousands of the hungry villagers. About 480 000 villagers are expected to benefit from the money which would be distributed to the seven administrative districts in the province and some urban centres where cases of hunger were also evident. The highest allocation went to Gutu district, which received ZIM $141 million to feed about 71 000 hungry villagers and Masvingo district was next highest with an allocation of ZIM $138 million for 68 000 people. Other districts, among them Bikita, Mwenezi, Chivi, Zaka and Chiredzi were allocated amounts ranging from ZIM $104 million to ZIM $137 million while urban areas like Chiredzi and Masvingo were allocated ZIM $130 000 each.