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FOOD SHORTAGES IN MOZAMBIQUE:
THE FACTS
Severe dry weather
in some of Mozambique's central and southern provinces have placed
355,000 people in immediate need of food aid, rising to 515,000
after September.
To make matters worse, shortages in neighbouring countries have
pushed food prices beyond the reach of a significant number of the
rural poor.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
- The south and certain central areas received
insufficient rain.
In central region, (Sofala, Manica and Tete provinces) rains were
irregular.
In the southern region (Gaza, Inhambane and Maputo) some good
initial rains were followed by a long dry spell - resulting in
virtually no rains for half the growing season.
- In the affected areas, a drop of more
than 60 percent of the total expected output of cereals and grains
is due to drought.
- Yields were down all over the southern region
and parts of central region. The Government estimates that
60,000 hectares yielded less than 10% of their usual output.
- Absence of rain has also affected the second
seasonal harvest (mid June-August) which only represents 10 percent
of annual production, but accounts for 40-50 percent of annual
production in the lower Limpopo districts of Gaza.
- BUT in the main cereal growing areas
of the north and some central parts, production actually increased.
Nationwide maize production was 8 percent higher; cassava
tolerated the drought, with total production comparable with last
year. Bean production increased by 15% over 2001.
- In Nampula, cassava tuber rotting and brown
leaf virus have significantly reduced cassava yields, causing
food shortages in coastal districts where this crop is the main
staple food.
- Overall 2002 cereal output is 5% above last
year estimated at 1.77 million metric tonnes (with maize at 1.24
million tonnes).
Although the exportable maize surplus is around 100,000 tonnes,
high internal transport costs make it uncompetitive to move down
to areas of shortage in the south. So it will probably be sent
to Malawi.
| Mozambique
food security: background |
- One third of the total population is considered chronically
food insecure. About 70 percent of the population live
below the absolute poverty line
- Subsistence agriculture is the main form of livelihood,
providing more than 80 percent of basic food needs
- Average plots cultivated by households are between 0.9
ha - 1.60 ha. Yields of between 400-600 kg per ha provide
only enough for 5 months of an average household's needs
- Approximately 180,000 people in southern provinces have
had below normal harvests since 1999. More than 650,000
people suffered extreme difficulties in obtaining food during
the 2000 floods
- Livestock losses during the civil war and subsequent floods
have still to be recovered
- Deterioration of infrastructure undermines flow of food
to inaccessible areas as well as sale of goods out of these
areas
- HIV AIDS prevalence is high - above 21 percent in the
central region. The impact of the disease on food security
is significant and rising due to lost or weakened agricultural
labour, and absence from fields
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HUMAN IMPACT
- Increased food demand from Malawi and
Zambia is expected to raise prices beyond the reach of the
rural poor, for whom alternative sources of income are limited.
- Lack of household stocks due to the
cumulative effect of three consecutive poor seasons in affected
areas.
- Decline of remittances from cross-border
employment in South Africa due to tighter immigration controls.
- A reduction of local resources (firewood,
charcoal, wild foods etc) due to intensive use over the past four
years.
- Many poor households have already reduced
their daily meals from three to one.
- Many households are now reliant on wild
foods and tubers to stabilise their diet.
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| Estimated Needs |
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By September, a total
of about 515,000 people will need food aid, of which 400,000 need
food assistance now |
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Cereal import requirements
are estimated at 642,000 metric tonnes
An estimated 120,000 tonnes of maize will have to be imported to cover
domestic requirements. Of this, 70,000 tonnes would be imported commercially,
mainly in the form of maize meal to cover urban consumption |
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Food aid supplies from
abroad, representing about 70 percent of the total food aid required,
are estimated at 50,000 tonnes
Only about 20,000 tonnes can be purchased locally, due to high transport
costs, for which donor assistance may be sought |
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Emergency food aid through
March 2003 amounts to 70,050 tonnes
The immediate need is for 53,250 tonnes while an additional 16,800
tonnes is needed for the second group of people who will need food
aid in September |
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Emergency provision of
seeds is needed so that drought-affected families can restart production
Promotion of seed multiplication and improved storage are also recommended |
Hunger timetable:
Mozambique |
| Period (2002-2003)
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People in need of
food aid |
June-
Sept 02 |
355,000 |
| Oct-Nov 02 |
515,000 |
Dec 02-
Mar 03 |
515,000 |
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Total
food aid needed:
70,050 metric tonnes |
| WFP Response |
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WFP has a three-month
project in Mozambique (up to 31st July 2002) to assist 400,000 beneficiaries
- victims of crop failures and consequent food shortages |
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WFP assistance will be
expanded shortly when the new regional emergency operation for the
southern Africa crisis is launched (at latest in July) |
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