USAID/OFDA Southern Africa Update - Information Bulletin #1

Background
A number of countries in southern Africa are currently experiencing food insecurity due to adverse climatic conditions for three consecutive growing seasons, mismanagement of grain reserves, and restrictive government policies that limit private sector commerce. During the 2001/2002 agricultural season, unusually dry conditions extended across much of the region, from southern Zambia eastward to southern Mozambique, resulting in crop failures and limited production in many areas. The response of the United Nations (U.N.), the U.S. Government (USG), relief agencies, and international donors during FY 2002 and FY 2003 reduced the impact of severe food shortages and prevented further deterioration of vulnerable communities. Malawi, Zambia, and parts of Mozambique experienced improvements in cereal production during the 2002/2003 agricultural season. However, Zimbabwe continues to face a serious humanitarian crisis, with more than half the population at risk. Continued drought and a poor 2002/2003 agricultural season in Swaziland, Lesotho, and southern Mozambique have resulted in increasing numbers of people requiring emergency food assistance. In FY 2004, the U.S. Ambassadors in Lesotho and Zimbabwe redeclared disasters in response to the ongoing regional food security crisis.

*FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) Report released in June 2003.

**Mozambique's Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) is composed of the Ministry of Agriculture (MADER), the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC), the Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition (SETSAN), WFP, and FEWS NET.

***Zimbabwe's Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) is composed of a consortium of U.N. agencies, NGOs, FEWS NET, SADC, and the Government of Zimbabwe.

Current Situation

As the 2003/2004 rainy season progresses, the prospects for a productive growing season are diminishing for a number of southern African countries. The late onset of the rainy season, which lasts from mid-October to April in southern Africa, and the continuing poor and erratic rains are causing concern about overall crop production and food security in parts of the region. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network's (FEWS NET) Southern Africa Food Security Brief for December 2003 -- January 2004, seasonal rains have been below normal compared to the long-term average. Central Mozambique, southern Malawi, and eastern Zimbabwe have received approximately half of the normal rainfall while experiencing above normal temperatures. In southern Mozambique, eastern South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho, the combination of below-normal rains this season and large moisture deficits last season is causing severe drought conditions.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Warning System Special Agromet Update for January 2004 reported a decrease in areas planted throughout the region due to the dry conditions. In some areas, farmers had to replant, provided additional seed was available and affordable. The developing drought situation is increasing concerns of reduced crop yields and continued food insecurity for the 2004/2005 marketing season.

The poor harvest prospects in South Africa, particularly in the Maize Triangle area, will impact regional food security. On January 16, 2004, President Thabo Mbeki declared six of South Africa's nine provinces disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. Humanitarian relief organizations are concerned that the South African drought will have an impact on the availability and prices of maize as much of the regionally-procured grain provided for relief assistance to other affected countries in the region is purchased in South Africa.

Lesotho. Three consecutive years of adverse weather, including drought, hailstorms, and frost, have adversely affected Lesotho. In addition to the poor performance of the crop harvest during the 2002/2003 season, the failure of the 2003 winter crop aggravated long-term food security issues. According to the SADC Special Agromet Update, late and insufficient rainfall during the first half of the 2003/2004 season led to significantly reduced plantings and may result in insufficient crop yields to fulfill Lesotho's cereal requirement. Drought, poor land management practices, and the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic continue to further limit Lesotho's subsistence agricultural capacity.

From December 7 to 9, 2003, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) assessment team visited Lesotho. The team confirmed that the prospects for the 2004 harvest are bleak and that increasing numbers of people are facing food insecurity. On February 11, 2004, the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho (GKL) appealed for increased international humanitarian assistance to combat the worsening food security situation.

Malawi. During the first half of the 2003/2004 agricultural season, rainfall was delayed, sporadic, and unevenly distributed in the Southern Region and in isolated areas of the Central and Northern Regions of Malawi. According to the FEWS NET Food Security Report for mid-December to mid-January, the Southern Region is of particular concern, with most areas receiving 50 percent less rainfall than normal. The late and erratic rains have adversely impacted agricultural activities, resulting in farmers not being able to plant or forced to replant in some areas. According to FEWS NET, if rains do not improve in the coming weeks, crop yields will decrease and trigger further food insecurity.

In an effort to more accurately assess the food security situation and determine actual needs within Malawi, WFP, GOM, FEWS NET, and other humanitarian agencies conducted a countrywide needs assessment during early February 2004. A report illustrating the assessment team's findings is expected by the end of February.

Mozambique. The FEWS NET Mozambique Food Security Update for January 2004 reported that concerns are increasing about a third consecutive year of drought due to below normal rainfall in central and southern Mozambique during the first half of the 2003/2004 rainy season. Most districts in the southern and central regions have received below 50 percent of normal rainfall. Due to the poor rains, the first planting failed in much of the southern region, forcing households to replant. Rains in early February helped to relieve some of the dry conditions. However, additional precipitation is necessary for the late plantings to succeed.

A USAID/OFDA field visit to Mozambique from December 10 to 12, 2003, concluded that the food security situation stabilized because of the emergency food assistance provided during the 2002/2003 crisis by the U.N., international donors, and the Government of the Republic of Mozambique. However, the USAID/OFDA assessment reconfirmed that the late and insufficient rains received to date may reduce overall crop production for this growing season.

Swaziland. From December 13 to 17, 2003, a USAID/OFDA assessment team visited the Lowveld, Middleveld, and Highveld regions of Swaziland. The visit confirmed that the prospects for the 2003/2004 agricultural season in the Lowveld are dire due to inconsistent and late rainfall, the high cost of agricultural inputs, a poor economic environment, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. The Highveld and parts of the Middleveld regions are facing relatively good crop production prospects for the season as rains began in late October. However, particular areas of the planted maize crop in the Middleveld are in poor condition due to inconsistent rainfall and infertile soil. On February 19, 2004, the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKS) declared a state of national emergency due to the ongoing drought and third consecutive year of food insecurity.

Zambia. The late and poor rains during the first months of the 2003/2004 growing season caused initial concern about crop performance and continued food insecurity, particularly in the Southern Province of Zambia. However, a joint USAID/OFDA and Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) assessment visit from January 11 to 16, 2004 concluded that the forecast for the 2003/2004 agricultural season is positive as overall crop conditions are favorable. While crops were planted late or re-planted in some areas due to poor rainfall, the improvement in rainfall since December 2003 is expected to result in good crop yields. In addition, the assessment visit confirmed that food security in Zambia will improve if the agro-climatic conditions remain favorable.

Zimbabwe. Prospects for the 2003/2004 agricultural season are dire. The FEWS NET Zimbabwe Food Security Update for January 2004 reported that the country's cumulative rainfall was below normal during the first half of the rainy season. The most affected areas are Manicaland Province, Masvingo Province, and the eastern part of Mashonaland East Province. Erratic and infrequent rains in addition to institutional and economic constraints, such as the Government of Zimbabwe's "fast track" land reform policy, a shortage of seed, high seed prices, and a shortage of draft power, have resulted in a decrease in areas planted. According to FEWS NET, projections for national cereal production range from 800,000 to 900,000 MT, representing approximately 33 to 38 percent of annual human and livestock requirements.

U.S. Government Humanitarian Assistance to Southern Africa

Since the onset of the crisis in February 2002, the USG has provided more than $530 million in humanitarian assistance through USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). During FY 2003, the USG provided more than $238 million in emergency humanitarian assistance in response to the complex food security crisis in southern Africa. To date in FY 2004, the USG has contributed more than $123 million.

In FY 2003, USAID/OFDA provided more than $8.8 million to support humanitarian needs in the southern Africa region. To date in FY 2004, USAID/OFDA has provided approximately $5 million. USAID/OFDA's programs in southern Africa focus on emergency response in the sectors of food security, agriculture, nutrition, health, and water and sanitation, while strengthening international response coordination, information dissemination, and monitoring.

(pdf* format - 151 KB)

MAP - Southern Africa: Humanitarian situation

USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.