Harvest increase masks regional disparities

Although Mozambique's 2003 harvest estimates show a small overall increase, these figures mask severe regional disparities, with the south showing drastically reduced crop yields. The latest Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) report said total production in the south is expected to be even lower than last year, when Mozambique was placed on a list of six southern African countries urgently needing food aid. According to information from the recent Crop and Food Supply Mission, carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the government, rainfall was below normal in all southern districts. This affected the development of crops during the crucial flowering and grain filling stages, resulting in lower production which has pushed food prices up. Mozambique normally imports extra maize, but the appreciation of the South African rand has also increased the price of maize bought from its neighbour in the southern parts of the country. The only relief was the rains brought by cyclone Japhet, which allowed late planting in some areas. Results appear to be mixed in the centre of the country, with overall production of cereals similar to last year in Tete, higher in Zambezia, and lower in Sofala and Manica. In upper Zambezia, farmers still have stocks from last year, but in lower Zambezia, last year's stocks have been exhausted. Sofala and Manica provinces are expected to harvest less than last year due to prolonged dry spells and localised flooding, the report stated. In addition, Manica has an increased number of traders from Zimbabwe crossing the border informally in search of fuel and food as a result of shortages there. The north appears to be better off than last year, where rain and overall production was good, but the spread of the cassava disease "brown streak virus" which rots the cassava root and diminishes the availability of stalks for sowing, is already affecting people who rely on cassava as a staple food. The north's usual commercial activity with Malawi has been drastically reduced by that country's favourable harvest and large-scale food distribution. And the poor condition of secondary and feeder roads has impeded the flow of production from northern surplus areas to southern deficit areas. It is feared that these surpluses could depress market prices for farmers. Besides crop difficulties and erratic rainfall, there were other factors impeding food security, FEWS NET said. Arbitrary taxes imposed by local authorities on informal and formal traders led to lower prices to producers and higher costs to consumers. The lack of infrastructure to store agricultural produce resulted in post-harvest losses as high as 30 percent. HIV/AIDS also had a negative impact on food security. An assessment was currently underway to determine the full impact of the disease.