Concern that late rains will hinder recovery

Given the poor harvests in parts of Mozambique over the past three years, the two-month delay in the onset of main planting-season rains was cause for vigilance, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) cautioned. As a result of the delay, FEWS NET has placed Mozambique on "watch status". A food security 'watch' is initiated when rainfall or environmental indicators show unusual fluctuations outside expected seasonal ranges, and most households show signs of moderate food insecurity. "Normally the major cropping season starts in October in the southern and central provinces, and lasts until March; in the northern areas it begins in November-December and lasts until April. This year the cropping season was delayed by two to three months, with much of the main agricultural activity taking place in January, particularly in south and central regions," FEWS NET explained. In spite of the late arrival of rain, the planting, replanting and continued rainfall had permitted crops to develop, leading to near-normal production estimates. Consequently, the Early Warning Department of the Mozambican Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had estimated that national-level crop production would increase this year compared to last year, with cereal, pulse and tuber production all up by between 6 percent and 6.5 percent, FEWS NET noted. "However, households in semi-arid areas of Gaza, Inhambane, Tete provinces, as well as parts of Maputo, Manica and Sofala provinces are only now beginning to recover from the past three years of drought, and thus potentially remain food insecure. To determine the extent of the impact of these three bad years, the Mozambique Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC), a multisectoral group, is currently carrying out an assessment, for which the results will be available in early May," FEWS NET added. While conditions appeared positive overall, "decision makers should take seriously the results of the ongoing assessment in defining the proper types of assistance, levels and duration the population may need". There had also been localised flooding in parts of Mozambique over the past month, but the impact on food security "does not seem to have been significant".