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Impact of cyclones and drought on food supply situation

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) said in a new assessment report on Madagascar this week that the cyclones and drought had caused severe damage to crops and farm land. This has sharply reduced agricultural production affecting food supply on the giant Indian Ocean island. "The overall food supply situation is expected to be tight in 2000/01 (April/March). Serious food shortages are anticipated in 17 communes of the traditional food-deficit south region in coming months," the assessment said. It said that following the three cyclones an estimated 156,500 people needed "urgent humanitarian assistance", and that WFP was providing food aid to those most affected. It added that were serious food crop losses, in particular, staples such as rice and maize. "Losses of food and seeds stocks have also been significant," it added. The report said that a deterioration in nutritional status of the most vulnerable sectors of the population, including children under five, pregnant women and the elderly was expected. "Recent nutritional surveys, although localised, indicate an evolution of the nutritional status that gives serious cause for concern," it added. Agriculture The report said that about 155,000 hectares of cereal and 33,000 hectares of export crops were lost to floods and high winds. "Reduced exports of vanilla, coffee and cloves over the next three years will have serious food security implications for the farmers," it said. It added that total cereal production for this year was estimated at 2.33 million mt, 15 percent lower than last year. "Cereal import requirements for 2000/01 are estimated at 518,000 mt of which 426,000 mt are to be imported commercially. Emergency food aid for affected people is estimated at 30,000 mt. International food assistance will be needed to cover the remaining gap," the report noted. The assessment said that a joint team from World Bank and the Government of Madagascar estimated it would cost about US $85.6 million to repair and rehabilitate major agricultural infrastructure. Rice The ministry of agriculture was quoted in the report as saying that it estimated that 149,441 hectares of rice were lost, representing 20 percent of the total area under rice cultivation. "At national level, the expected production of rice lost in the floods is estimated to be 152,000 mt or 7 percent of this year's production," it said. Maize The assessment estimated that 10 percent of the area under cultivation for maize production was completely destroyed by the floods. This amounts to 4,000 mt representing 11 percent of production in the affected area. Vanilla The report said that 4,355 hectares of land used for vanilla cultivation were lost and that only 870 mt of vanilla might to be produced. "This will seriously affect exports next year and possibly for an additional two years," the report said. Madagascar is the world's leading producer of vanilla, and on average 1,000 mt is exported annually. Coffee Coffee is the most important export crop and is mainly grown on the east coast. The area lost is estimated at 7,800 hectares. "Full recovery is expected to take three to four years," the report noted. Damage to other sectors Livestock It said that damage to the livestock sector was "considerable" but that a complete assessment was not yet available. "However, this situation has resulted in increased meat prices in local markets of the affected areas," the report added. Environment An estimated 70,000 hectares of forests were damaged by the cyclones in the area north of Antalaha on the northeast coast. "This deforestation is likely to worsen the problem of soil erosion and expose these areas to ecological disasters," the assessment said. The complete FAO/WFP assessment report can be found at: http://www.fao.org/GIEWS/english/alertes/2000/SRMAD500.htm

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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