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UN: Drought spells grim outlook for crops in East Africa
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 21 - 09 - 2009


Poor 2009 crop prospects in the Horn of Africa
following below-average rains, combined with conflict and
displacement are aggravating an already serious food insecurity
situation in the region, according to the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), dpa reported.
Nearly 20 million people currently depend on food assistance in
the region, and this number may increase as the "hunger season"
progresses, particularly among subsistence farmers, pastoralists and
low-income urban dwellers, the Rome-based FAO said in a statement
Monday.
The effects of the oscillaton in ocean temperature known as El
Nino, which usually brings heavy rains towards the end of the year,
could make matters worse, resulting in floods and mudslides,
destroying crops both in the field and in stores, increasing
livestock losses and damaging infrastructure and housing, FAO warned.
Across Eastern Africa prices of maize, a major staple, have shown
a declining trend since the beginning of the year, but remain higher
than they were two years ago, FAO noted.
In Uganda and Kenya, prices of maize in June 2009 were almost
double their level 24 months earlier.
In Khartoum, Sudan, June 2009 prices of sorghum, another staple
crop, were more than double their levels in June 2007.
Similarly, prices in Mogadishu, Somalia, still remain higher than
the pre-crisis period, despite declining since mid-2008.
For pastoralists, lack of adequate pasture has worsened livestock
conditions and reduced market prospects, impacting their incomes and
ability to access staple foods.
In Uganda, production of 2009 first season crops, completed in
early August, is forecast at well below average levels, representing
the fourth successive poor harvest.
In the country's northern Acholi region, first season cereal and
pulse production is estimated about 50 per cent below the average.
In Kenya, the poor performance of the 2009 "long rains" maize
crop, combined with already depleted national cereal stocks, exports
bans in neighbouring countries and persistent high cereal prices, has
reduced food access. The maize crop, which accounts for 80 per cent
of total annual production, is estimated at 1.84 million tons, about
28 per cent below normal levels.
In Ethiopia, production of the secondary "belg" season crop is
also estimated at levels well below average. Scarce rains have
resulted in crop losses of up to 75 per cent in some of the hardest
hit areas.
With the partial failure of the "belg" season crop, the number of
people in need of emergency assistance is expected to increase by 1.3
million to 6.2 million, FAO said.
According to FAO's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit,
Somalia is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in 18 years, with
approximately half the population - an estimated 3.6 million people -
in need of emergency livelihood and life-saving assistance.
This includes 1.4 million rural people affected by the severe
drought, about 655,000 urban poor facing high food and non-food
prices, and 1.3 million internally displaced people, a result of
escalating fighting and conflict, FAO said.


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