WFP warns of weather-linked food insecurity

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of serious food insecurity in Madagascar as vulnerable populations get trapped between the impact of poor weather on their crops and the high cost of rice. In its latest food update WFP noted that the island's main crops - rice, maize and sorghum - had received adequate rain at the beginning of the 2004/05 agricultural season, but dry conditions in February - the most crucial month for crop development - had affected yields. The island's 17 million people consume almost 2.5 million mt of rice annually. There were severe rice shortages last year after two cyclones tore up crops, while recent heavy flooding in the eastern Alaotra area, the island's main rice-growing region, caused serious damage to homes and ruined paddy fields. The drought-prone south has experienced severe dry conditions in the past two years, leaving thousands of rural households unable to adequately feed themselves. "We are particularly concerned about food shortages in the south of the country. A report recently released by the early warning system showed that about 2,830 mt of food will be needed to feed 105,000 people in the upcoming lean season (December 2005-April 2006)," WFP's communication officer, Stefania Trassari, told IRIN. Food insecure populations are concentrated in seven communes spread across the Ampanihy, Beloha, and Ambovombe districts in the southwestern province of Toliara. Trassari pointed out that although a slight drop in domestic rice prices had eased some of the pressure on households, high malnutrition rates among children, especially in the southeastern province of Fianarantsoa, were a major concern. "We have seen an improvement in the overall nutritional status of the population, as rice has become slightly more affordable for poor households. However, many communities are still struggling with the problem of malnutrition as a result of the rice crisis," she added. At the height of the shortages, rice fetched up to US $1 per kg, but in recent weeks it has fallen to around US 50 cents. WFP has noted that Malagasy families, struggling to survive on a minimum wage of US $25 per month, are increasingly unable to afford a basic monthly food basket.