Millions face food shortages - FAO

The United Nations has warned that nearly thirty million people face food shortages in sub-Saharan Africa this year. In a report on Monday the FAO said it needed US $140 million to help revive agriculture in the region hit by adverse weather and armed conflicts. It said all countries of eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region as well as Angola, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone need continued food aid. In southern Africa overall prospects for the 2001 cereal crop were poor, the FAO said, reflecting a decline in the area planted from last year’s level and lower yields due to a mid-season dry spell in January, followed by excessive rains. “The heavy rains resulted in severe flooding that displaced thousands of people and caused damage to infrastructure and crops in several areas,” the report noted. It added that latest FAO forecasts pointed to a decrease of one-quarter of the maize crop, compared to last year. In South Africa, the largest producer in the sub-region, plantings of maize declined by 17 percent while yields were affected by prolonged dry weather in January and early February; subsequent abundant rains allowed only partial recovery of the crop. Maize output was forecast to decline by around 34 percent from last year’s good level. In Zimbabwe, plantings were also sharply reduced due to the resettlement of commercial farms, while yields were adversely affected by dry weather and floods in parts. Maize production was forecast to decline by 41 percent from the level of 2000. In Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, serious floods resulted in crop losses in localized areas while excessive rains negatively affected yields. Maize outputs were expected to decline substantially compared to last year but to remain at average or above average levels, the FAO said. “By contrast, in Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia, cereal production is anticipated to be reduced due to dry spells. In Angola, production is likely to decrease from last year as a result of planting reductions following the intensification of the civil conflict at planting time, as well as erratic rains during the season,” it added. For the FAO’s report please see: http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010401-e.htm