HIGHLIGHTS
The recent results from the VACS and
CFSAMS indicate that southern Africa is entering an acute phase of a chronic
situation. Stakeholders advised that non-food interventions should also
be considered to address chronic food insecurity.
The Lesotho VAC estimates that 549,000 people will face food shortages between June 2005 -- March 2006. Government priorities include addressing market inefficiencies which are expected to reduce prices, thereby making food commodities more accessible to the poor.
The Malawi VAC estimates that 4.2 million or 34% of the population will be food insecure. Part of the Government's response includes tax exemptions and subsidies for poor farmers.
Mozambique -- The VAC reported that 580,000 people are expected to be food insecure this year. In addition, access to clean water and health care remain a problem. Government priorities include increasing potable water treatment and strengthening the nonagricultural economy.
Swaziland -- 250,000 Swazis are expected to face 4 to 7 month periods of food shortage. The Government will look at reforming the pricing policy which has so far allowed millers to keep prices high, thereby limiting food accessibility for the poor.
REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY OVERVIEW
The recent surveys from the national vulnerability assessment committees (VACS) and country Crop and Food Supply Assessments Missions (CFSAMS) indicate that southern Africa is entering an acute phase of a chronic situation, affecting large areas of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. A regional stakeholders meeting, convened by SADC and the UN, took place on 7th and 8th July to discuss findings of the VACS and CFSAMS and devise ways to move forward. The meeting, attended by over 100 representatives from Governments, UN, SADC, NGOs and donors from the region, included presentations and discussions on overall food availability in each country, access to food, livelihoods, nutrition, informal cross border trade and plans and actions by the SADC governments to respond to the current situation.
The meeting was unanimous in concluding that the information provided to date highlighted the critical levels of food insecurity in several countries in the region and that urgent support was needed. It was further agreed however that the needs did not translate into food aid alone although it remained essential that resources be provided to WFP to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the immediate term. Governments, UN, bi-lateral donors and NGOs stated that they would continue to explore alternative approaches to food aid, including voucher systems, cash transfers and other safety nets, in order to ensure that those who are food deficit are able to attain their entitlements. They also highlighted the need to promote more multi-sectoral approaches for future vulnerability assessments. The situation as given by each country can be summarised as follows:
Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recorded a growth of 25% in crop production in 2005 due to favourable rainfall patterns and expansion of cultivated areas. Cereal production for the season reached 880,000 tonnes with maize production nearing a surplus - the first since the end of the war. The government estimates that while the degree of vulnerability of rural families to food insecurity has diminished slightly throughout the country, pockets of vulnerability still persist in the Central Plateau in the provinces of Huambo, Bie and Kuando Kubango. Initial steps have been taken to establish a VAC for Angola.
Lesotho -- The LVAC estimates that 549,000 people will face food shortages between June 2005 and March 2006, with the most significant deficits being reported in the Southern Lowlands and Senqu River Valley. The government plans to respond by addressing market inefficiencies that currently keep prices high and strengthen activities that mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS. Lessons learned for future VACS include the need to redefine livelihood profiles to differentiate between 'chronic' and 'transitory' vulnerability.
Malawi -- The maize harvest is the lowest since 1994, with production at just 1.25 million tonnes representing 37% of national consumption needs. Presuming that maize prices keep parity with inflation, the MVAC estimates that 4.2 million or 34% of the population will be food insecure during the coming year. This figure is expected to rise if prices increase. The Government is expected to respond by providing tax exemptions for farmers earning less than $US40 a month and subsidies for fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
Mozambique -- Total cereal production is reported at 1.92 million tonnes, just 5% lower than a year ago. However, the production disparity between the north and south continues to widen resulting in acute food insecurity in the southern and central provinces. According to the VAC, 580,000 people are expected to be food insecure this year. It is also reported that access to clean water and health care services remain a problem. In addition, whilst the nutrition situation appears to be deteriorating, acute malnutrition indicators still remain above the threshold. In response to the VAC results, the government plans to closely monitor malnutrition indicators, increase potable water treatment, provide food assistance, and strengthen the non-agricultural economy to reduce dependence on rain fed agriculture.
Namibia -- The recent national crop assessment report indicates widespread decline in cereal output, with the north-eastern Caprivi region being hit the hardest. Total coarse grain production has been estimated at 97,000 tonnes, which is 15.8% below last year's figures and 8.9% below the 8-year average. The government is still yet to conduct a vulnerability assessment to estimate the number of food insecure people.
Swaziland -- The CFSAM estimates that almost 250,000 Swazis will face food shortages of between 4 to 7 months. The report indicated that although maize production during the 2004/5 growing season was about 10% higher than last year's official post-harvest figure, it was still below the average of the previous five years. Whilst recurring drought and the impact of HIV/AIDS were stated as the main reasons for the downward trend, the maize pricing policy was cited as further exacerbating the situation by allowing millers to keep prices high, thereby limiting access of poor households. The Government plans to reform the pricing policy, organise direct transfers to vulnerable groups in food insecure areas, and provide incentives such as subsidised inputs and micro-credit schemes to improve agricultural productivity.
Zambia -- Late availability of seeds and fertilisers, in addition to the dry spell, has led to a decrease in cereal production. As a result, Zambia needs to import 269,000 tonnes compared to a surplus of 280,000 tonnes last year. The VAC estimates that 185,000 people will require immediate assistance, potentially rising to 1.2 million people in January. The VAC results also reported high levels of acute malnutrition in the eastern and western provinces for children under 5, shortages of drinking water in southern provinces, increased school drops outs due to high school fees, and an increase in the employment of negative coping strategies. Government priorities include the promotion of drought resistant crops, improvement of procurement and early delivery of inputs, providing a mix of food relief and cash transfers, enhancing water harvesting techniques, and devising further incentives to reduce school drop outs of the girl child.
Zimbabwe -- Preliminary VAC results based on a conservative maize market price assumption suggest 2.9 million people (or an estimated 36% of Zimbabwe's rural population) will require assistance over the year ahead. The government has announced plans to import 1.2 million tonnes of maize to address food shortages. WFP is preparing to assist up to four million people. The VAC also revealed that 1% of rural households were headed by children, 44% of households were headed by chronically ill members, and 18% of households contained at least one school drop out. The government's primary responses include provision of a mix of food assistance and cash transfers to the most vulnerable and food insecure, strengthening home based care programmes to the chronically ill and promoting livestock restocking programmes to address shortage of draught power.
Note: (1) RIACSO is a partnership comprising of the UN Agencies that fall under the Regional Directors Team for southern Africa and key NGOs in the region. RIACSO supports the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, Mr. James Morris, in his mandate to raise awareness of the situation in the region and provide recommendations regarding the response.
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