The idea that open trade among African countries grappling with food deficits and drought began gaining ground with the establishement of a borderless regional food reserve, reported dpa Countries in southern and east Africa have for some time been considering homegrown strategies to achieve long-term food sustainablility in a bid to move away from donor aid. Maize Without Borders was set up nearly three years ago by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade block as a workable initiative to this end. It was adopted by goverments keen to mitigate against food emergencies, expand and support food trade in the region. COMESA believes that over time, the initiative could work to make its members less dependant on western donor support - whether it is in the form of funding or maize from the United States. The idea of moving from a national to regional perspective of dealing with food security was formally adopted as a COMESA policy in its Nairobi Declaration. But the initiative has suffered a major setback in light of ongoing drought, poor crop yields and food shortages among the countries that are meant to keep it in operation. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, Lesotho, Tanzania, Swaziland and Kenya, countries that were expected to contribute and benefit under Maize Without Borders have all suffered food deficits. Most of COMESA's southern African member states were hit by unexpected drought at critical growth stages of staple crops in the last farming season. Even Zambia, that supplied maize to the United Nations World Food Programme for its aid initiative at the height of the food shortage crisis in southern Africa is facing an inadequate harvest. --mor 1453 Local Time 1153 GMT
