MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update August 2009
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MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update August 2009 Figure 1. Estimated food security conditions, July- Food availability and access have not changed substantially for September 2009) most households in the last two months; the majority now has nearly adequate access to food. Moderate levels of food insecurity is found in most of the semi‐arid zones, where poorer households are struggling to meet their food needs, through their own produced and/or purchased food. While a country‐wide assessment is underway, which will project food security conditions for the remainder of the consumption year, beginning in October, the World Food Program (WFP) plans to assist 175,000 persons in selected districts in the provinces of Tete, Gaza, and Sofala until the 2009/2010 harvest. Despite favorable overall production prospects, the National Directorate of Commerce (DNC) indicates a total cereal deficit of 558,000 MT for the May 2009 to April 2010 marketing year. The gap is expected to be covered by commercial imports and food assistance. The Agriculture Market Information System (SIMA) indicates that prices for food commodities have been oscillating week by week, but the monthly averages are increasing seasonably. At the consumer level, the maize price has been generally stable, and most prices, although higher than the five‐year average, are lower than this time last year. For more information on FEWS NET’s Food Insecurity Severity Scale, please see: 3TUwww.fews.net/FoodInsecurityScale U3T Seasonal calendar and critical events Source: FEWS NET Source: FEWS NET FEWS NET MOZAMBIQUE FEWS NET Washington FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity. The authors’ views expressed in this Av. FPLM, 2698, Maputo 1717 H St NW publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Agency Tel: 258 21 460588; Washington DC 20006 for International Development or the United States Government. Mobile: 258 82 3050574 [email protected] Fax: 258 21 462657 [email protected] www.fews.net/mozambique MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update August 2009 Food security summary Food availability and access have not changed substantially in the last two months for most households; the majority now has nearly adequate access to food. At the consumer level, the maize price has been generally stable, although it remains higher than the five‐year average. Nevertheless there are regional differences, and in the semi‐arid districts of southern Tete province and northwest Gaza province, and the semi‐arid district of Sofala province, very poor and poor households are at high risk of food insecurity. Some 175,000 people (0.8 percent of the population) are facing difficulties in meeting their food needs, and likely resorting to extreme coping strategies to fill the food deficits. The annual food security assessment by SETSAN and partners is underway and will determine the scale of need and appropriate response mechanisms, and project the food security conditions for the remainder of the consumption year. In the meantime, SETSAN anticipates that 240,000 to 350,000 people are at high risk of food insecurity, and will require humanitarian assistance — such as food aid, inputs, or water interventions — until the main harvest in April/May 2010 in the semi‐arid districts of southern Tete province (districts of Changara, Cahora Bassa, Mágoe, and Mutarara) and northwest Gaza province (Chicualacuala, Chigubo, Chibuto, and Mabalane), and the semi‐arid district of Sofala province (Chemba, Cheringoma, Chibabava, Maríngue, and Machanga). To date, no food aid has been delivered, due mainly to lack of resources, but resources have been secured to assist 175,000 persons from October 2009 until April 2010. According to the World Food Program (WFP), close to 19,300 MT of food (cereal and pulses) are needed for them, as well as the 72,000 additional people who become food insecure after October. Later in 2009, moderate food insecurity will likely extend to very poor and poor households in the interior of Inhambane province (Govuro, Mabote, Funhalouro, and Panda), Sofala province (Maríngue and Cheringoma), Zambezia province (Mopeia and Morrumbala) and southeastern districts of Nampula province (Moma, Angoche, Mongicual, and Mossuril). A failure to provide timely humanitarian intervention will cause further deterioration of the poorer households’ living conditions. They will possibly begin to employ extreme and negative coping strategies, including consumption of improper food on a larger scale and be subject to health risks; particular attention must be given during the hunger period. The impact of this year’s poor rains in parts of southern and central regions, in particular, on the poor households living in these areas will likely be severe, as most of the areas are cash poor and have limited opportunity to diversify their livelihoods. Additionally, higher prices for maize and its substitutes may erode the purchasing power of the rural poor, reducing their ability to access food of adequate quality and quantity. Rapid food security assessment in Chibuto and Manjacaze districts FEWS NET and the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) carried out a qualitative rapid food security assessment in August in Chibuto and Manjacaze districts, both in Gaza province. The assessment covered the following locations: Chibuto capital, Alto Changana, and Maqueze in Chibuto district, and Manjacaze capital, Chalala, Guachene, Macuacua, and Muchisso in Manjacaze district (see Figure 2). Assessment findings During the 2008/09 production season, rains started in mid‐November (normally, rains are expected in early October), and ended much earlier than expected. Rainfall distribution was also quite irregular. During the second season, rains have only occurred in May and again now in August. These conditions have adversely affected crop production. However, given the persistent planting whenever rains occurred, crops — particularly maize — were found in the field at different growing stages, from seeding to flowering stages. In all observed cases, additional rainfall is needed and crucial for normal development of crops. The northern part of both districts is typically semi‐arid with sandier soils and moderate levels of food insecurity. Poor rural households in these remote zones are particularly vulnerable to production losses, given their livelihoods, which limit their ability to earn cash income, and general isolation from markets and roads. Within these areas, the households most at risk Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2 MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update August 2009 of food insecurity are the poor and very poor, who Figure 2. The two districts showing the locations (in red) have no livestock. To cope, they are currently selling covered by the FEWS NET/INGC joint assessment, 4-7 August, forest products such as firewood, charcoal, 2009 traditionally distilled alcohol, and other goods and crafts, and probably will begin consuming wild foods. Most families, especially those living in the southern part of both districts, will also receive remittances from family members working in South Africa and elsewhere. Poorer households will begin to exchange casual labor in neighboring areas for food, though these sources, too, will likely be limited. As the main season 2009/10 approaches, usually starting in October, the primary request/recommendation from administrative and agriculture authorities and farmers from both districts is the timely allocation of seeds. Another strong request came from the northern Manjacaze district, where households asked for cassava cuttings. Chibuto District Moderately food insecurity levels were observed in the northern part of the district, typically semi‐arid, where the main season production was hardly affected by irregularity of rains and with no favorable conditions for the second season. The poor and very Source: FEWS NET poor households from these semi‐arid areas are now employing coping strategies including reduction in the frequency and quantity of meals. Special and immediate attention – including humanitarian assistance – is strongly recommended for the northern semi‐arid area of Chibuto district to avoid further deterioration of food security conditions and the employing of extreme and negative coping strategies. Extreme coping strategies include the consumption of wild roots, known locally as xicutso and matiwo, wild fruits, known as Macuacua and massala, and drinking of wild fruit juice that can cause health problems. The FEWS NET/INGC mission has visited the Administrative Post of Alto Changana and the Locality of Maqueze where households’ food reserves have exhausted and the above described coping strategies are in place. The ongoing VAC assessment is expected to confirm the scale of need in these areas and will determine whether assistance through the Government of Mozambique, external donors, or a combination is necessary. The pasture and water availability in the northern semi‐arid zone is a serious concern. Livestock from those areas has to travel long distances in search of water and pasture. Relief is only expected with the coming of the seasonal rains that normally occurs in October. Generally, poor households in the semi‐arid zone have similar problems that include very low cash incomes, even in normal years. This limits the ability of households to make up for production losses without outside assistance. Income from the sale of crops declines when production is poor, but this has little effect on poor households, since they generally sell little of their crop production, and only a small amount of income is normally obtained through the sale of natural products (e.g., grass, building poles, etc.). This semi‐arid zone has similar conditions with the rest of the north and interior of Gaza Region where poor households cannot cover basic minimum household expenditures for items such as tea, soap, salt, primary schooling, and basic healthcare. Famine Early Warning Systems Network 3 MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update August 2009 Manjacaze District On the other hand, the northern part of the district including the visited Administrative Posts of Chalala and Macuacua and localities of Guachene and Muchisso conditions are much similar to those from the semi‐arid zones of Chibuto.