by Munetsi Madakufamba – SANF 04 no 72
This article is part of our special daily coverage of SADC regional issues at the SADC Summit currently taking place in Grand Baie, Mauritius
GRAND BAIE, 12 August – The southern African region is steadily recovering from food shortages experienced over the last couple of seasons. Cereal production has surpassed that of the 2002/03 crop season by 10 percent.
According to information released by senior officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) during technical meetings in Grand Baie, Mauritius, just over five million people may still need humanitarian assistance during the 2004/05 season. However, this figure represents a significant drop from the 15 million-plus that was affected during the 2002/03 disaster year.
Prega Ramsamy, SADC Executive Secretary, said the improvement is attributed to better overall rainfall in most parts of the region and measures taken by member states to boost food production. This is in spite of the late onset of the rainy season, coupled with poor and erratic rainfall during the first half of the season (October-November-December).
Better rainfall during the period January-March greatly benefited late planted crops. Ramsamy said compared to last season, cereal production increases are assessed in Botswana (8 percent), Mozambique (12), Namibia (34), Swaziland (24), Tanzania (28), Zambia (10) and Zimbabwe (149).
However, some countries are still experiencing overall cereal deficits, totalling 1.93 million tonnes during the current consumption year. Official SADC data shows only South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have overall cereal surpluses while Mozambique has an overall maize surplus.
Food security has been a critical issue in SADC of late, especially following acute shortages experienced since 2002. As part of a regional response to the problem, an extra-ordinary SADC summit was convened in May in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam. The summit outlined a road map to sustainable food security in the region, with specific commitments in the short, medium to long term.
Ramsamy said one of the long term solutions is a Strategic Plan of Action that SADC has developed to “boost food availability, promote access to food, promote trade, increase preparedness and encourage member states to increase investment for longer term development”.
In addition, SADC’s 15-year blueprint, the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) outlines a number of structural problems that member states need to address in order to avoid food shortages recurring in future.
For instance, the RISDP notes that while food availability has greatly improved in the region, accessibility remains a cause for major concern.
Also cited is lack of strategies targeted at vulnerable groups including orphans and people living with HIV and AIDS. Other constraints relate to incoherent pricing policies, including trade bans on certain agricultural commodities by some member states.
Ramsamy said there is also a general overdependence on cereals in the southern African region. SADC is now encouraging member states to expand production and inclusion in diet of crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes and bananas.
The SADC technical meetings, which ended 12 August, were in preparation for the three-day Council of Ministers, which ends on 14 August. Heads of state and government will meet on 16-17 August. (SARDC)
