Hundreds of thousands in need of food aid

Some 254,000 people in 13 northern Tanzanian districts will find it difficult to feed themselves in April and May, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) said in its April food security update, its latest. "Because in the 13 districts the 2003/04 cropping season rainfall was poor and production was low, most households exhausted their retentions before or around February," FEWS NET, a USAID funded activity, said. Although the food security situation remained satisfactory, it said, poor rainfall in 2004/05 had affected crops and livestock conditions in the country's north coast and northern highlands. In normal years, Tanzanian farmers depend on their own food production to meet most of their needs, which they supplement with food purchased from markets when affordable. However, due to the failed "Vuli rains", FEWS NET said, many poor households would be unable to meet their food needs, having failed to generate enough income from farm and non-farm activities. FEWS NET recommended that the government release approximately 6,100 mt of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserve, for sale at a subsidised price to vulnerable persons in the 13 districts in April and May, after which the harvesting season is expected to start. "The recommended ration would be based on the minimum requirement of 400 grams per person per day, which assumes that the vulnerable persons would have access to supplementary foods such as vegetables and fruits," it said. [Full FEWS NET item on: www.fews.net]