Drought affects 85 percent of crops in Shinyanga District

Close to 85 percent of maize, sorghum and groundnut crops in Tanzanian's northern district of Shinyanga has been affected by drought, leaving thousands of people without enough to feed their families for the next six months, according to the Presbyterian World Service & Development agency. "The ongoing drought is expected to further diminish pastures and water sources and consequently affect livestock production," the agency, a Canadian development and disaster relief body, reported on Wednesday. The Canadian agency said it had been supporting agriculture and water programmes in the district together with the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania. The Canadian agency said as part of a coordinated effort to provide food relief in the region, it and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank were helping the Tanzanian agency target the villages of Buganika, Ngwigumbi, Wigelekelo, Wishiteleja, Masanga, Ngwanhalanga and Bulekela for food aid programmes. "Many families are down to one meal a day," the Canadian agency reported. "Children have stopped going to school. Families are selling whatever they have to buy food. Some young girls are being forced to marry into wealthy households so that their families can buy food with their dowries. Others are turning to prostitution." It said that crop production for the next farming season would also be affected, as people eat the seeds intended for planting, and travel to other areas to look for work instead of working their own farms. Therefore, it said the Tanzanian agency would provide maize and beans to 10,000 people, particularly targeting children and pregnant women. The beneficiaries will receive 12 kg of maize per month/person for six months. Women and children will also receive 1.4 kg of beans per month/person for six months. The food distributions will occur in October and December 2003, and February 2004. In addition, the Canadian agency reported, maize and sorghum seeds would be distributed to 1,200 drought-affected farmers so fields in the seven target communities -- approximately 1,000 acres – could be replanted. Every family will receive 4 kg of maize and sorghum seeds. Some two million people face food insecurity in Tanzania due to poor and erratic rains. The government and donor organisations have already started to make contingency plans following warnings of the imminent food shortage.