Food insecurity persists in two provinces

Although this year's good maize harvest in Zambia has alleviated food shortages, households in two provinces continue to face food insecurity, officials said on Wednesday. "We had a reasonable harvest, which has assisted us in solving the food crisis, but this is not to say that the needs of all Zambians have been met. There is still concern over the food situation in the Southern and Western Provinces," Elizabeth Phiri, permanent secretary in charge of cooperatives and marketing in the Ministry of Agriculture told IRIN. Zambia produced 1.2 million mt of maize during the 2002/03 farming season - double the quantity harvested in the previous year. The poor crop in 2001/02 saw widespread food shortages, with millions of Zambians relying on food aid to survive. However, despite the "bumper" harvest the country's Central Statistical Office (CSO) this week released findings from a recent survey, showing that by August about 34 percent of households in Southern and Western provinces had already run out of maize stocks. The CSO also noted that 64 percent of households in Gwembe, Siavonga and Sinazongwe districts (Southern Province) had reduced the number of daily meals as food stocks dwindled. Phiri said the government did not appeal for relief aid this year, but instead had requested NGOs to assist in moving food from "productive" areas to parts of the country where there was a deficit. "We have said that this is the plan but, given the technical difficulties, it has taken some time, but we are committed to helping those who are in need," Phiri said. Meanwhile, a national umbrella NGO dealing in food security told IRIN that funding shortages were the key obstacle in distributing food from provinces where there was a surplus to those experiencing food insecurity. "Yes, there is sufficient maize for everyone, but those in need cannot afford the maize. Many of the vulnerable in the provinces most in need do not have any assets or money in order to purchase the maize," said the director of Programme Against Malnutrition (PAM), Drinah Nyirenda. A recent Famine Early Warning Network (FEWS NET) report suggested that relief food distribution to vulnerable people in the affected districts should continue. It also recommended the implementation or continuation of the school feeding programme in these districts. "One of the main concerns is the rising level of malnutrition in these areas. And although it is commendable that the government has decided to provide ongoing support for farmers ... authorities need to address the poor education on nutrition," Nyirenda said. According to the CSO, chronic malnutrition in Zambia stands at 59 percent, with urban malnutrition at 43 percent.