Crop failures raise famine fears: WFP

THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday expressed “deep concern” over erratic weather patterns in southern Africa, which have devastated harvest prospects for millions of people and could spell yet another year of widespread food shortages.

Parts of Namibia, Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been struck by “devastating floods” which have destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of crops during the most critical growing stage. In sharp contrast, WFP added that Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, and much of Swaziland and large swathes of Zimbabwe’s cropland have also been affected by prolonged dry spells that have withered and killed crops or reduced their development.”Lesotho, for example, is expecting up to a 60 per cent decline in agricultural output over last year’s harvest,” the WFP said in a statement.South Africa, which is usually the largest producer of maize in the region and one of WFP’s procurement points, is facing poor harvest prospects due because of extreme heat in recent weeks and drought in some parts of the country.Reduced harvests in South Africa could be especially problematic when responding to food shortages in the region, particularly as prices for maize have already started escalating.”All indications are that southern Africa could be heading for yet another year of critical food shortages,” said Amir Abdulla, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa.”For some parts of the region, it’s simply too late to hope that a late burst of rainfall will change people’s food supply outlook for the year ahead.”One of the countries worst affected by dry spells is Swaziland, which potentially faces a sixth consecutive year of poor harvests – “perhaps the worst in 25 years”.In the last few months, Swaziland has suffered delayed rainfall, heavy winds and hailstorms, and then scorching dry spells.”Early indications are that this could be the worst agricultural year in Swaziland due to drought since 1992,” Abdulla said.”We are now pulling together an assessment team to determine the extent of crop failure and the likely impact on the country’s food supply, but initial findings are grim.”Since 2004, harvests in southern Africa have generally improved due to better weather patterns and the broader availability of seeds and fertilisers.As a result, the number of people requiring food aid has steadily declined.However, because of chronic poverty and nine of the 10 highest HIV-AIDS prevalence rates in the world, food security in southern Africa remains precarious, requiring the WFP to currently assist 4,3 million people.”We are watching the region very closely to see what assistance may be needed to help the poorest and most vulnerable people through the months ahead,” Abdulla said.He said assessments needed to be carried out as soon as possible to determine the impact agricultural losses may have on people, but already the early indications for several countries were “alarming”.In sharp contrast, WFP added that Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, and much of Swaziland and large swathes of Zimbabwe’s cropland have also been affected by prolonged dry spells that have withered and killed crops or reduced their development.”Lesotho, for example, is expecting up to a 60 per cent decline in agricultural output over last year’s harvest,” the WFP said in a statement.South Africa, which is usually the largest producer of maize in the region and one of WFP’s procurement points, is facing poor harvest prospects due because of extreme heat in recent weeks and drought in some parts of the country.Reduced harvests in South Africa could be especially problematic when responding to food shortages in the region, particularly as prices for maize have already started escalating.”All indications are that southern Africa could be heading for yet another year of critical food shortages,” said Amir Abdulla, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa.”For some parts of the region, it’s simply too late to hope that a late burst of rainfall will change people’s food supply outlook for the year ahead.”One of the countries worst affected by dry spells is Swaziland, which potentially faces a sixth consecutive year of poor harvests – “perhaps the worst in 25 years”.In the last few months, Swaziland has suffered delayed rainfall, heavy winds and hailstorms, and then scorching dry spells.”Early indications are that this could be the worst agricultural year in Swaziland due to drought since 1992,” Abdulla said.”We are now pulling together an assessment team to determine the extent of crop failure and the likely impact on the country’s food supply, but initial findings are grim.”Since 2004, harvests in southern Africa have generally improved due to better weather patterns and the broader availability of seeds and fertilisers.As a result, the number of people requiring food aid has steadily declined.However, because of chronic poverty and nine of the 10 highest HIV-AIDS prevalence rates in the world, food security in southern Africa remains precarious, requiring the WFP to currently assist 4,3 million people.”We are watching the region very closely to see what assistance may be needed to help the poorest and most vulnerable people through the months ahead,” Abdulla said.He said assessments needed to be carried out as soon as possible to determine the impact agricultural losses may have on people, but already the early indications for several countries were “alarming”.