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FEWSNET sees poor harvests for Zim

Written by STAFF REPORTER

Monday, 26 October 2009 15:42

HARARE – Zimbabwe is forecast to record a poor harvest during the 2009/10 farming season as the US-funded Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) warns of a lurking moderate El Nino conditions across the Pacific Ocean which are associated with dry conditions across southern Africa. (Pictured: Children carry donated food home – Zimbabwe is likely to face more food shortages next year)

FEWSNET said in its latest publication titled Executive Brief: El Nino and Food Security in Southern Africa that southern half of the region, particularly Botswana, Namibia, southern and central Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa would face below-normal harvest this season.
“With a moderate El Nino expected this year, it is more likely that some areas will face drier?than?usual conditions beginning in January 2010,” FEWSNET said.
Forecasts indicate that the current El Nino is likely to be of weak to moderate strength through the remainder of 2009.
El Nino conditions are associated with the warming up of temperatures over the Pacific Ocean which often results in significant changes in rainfall patterns in eastern and southern Africa.
In southern Africa, there is sometimes an increase in precipitation very early on, during October – December.
However, this slightly elevated moisture drops off as the season progresses often leading to drought.
FEWSNET noted that the dry conditions would most likely affect the important maize?growing areas in the southern African region.
“Should this happen, food availability will be very tight across much of the sub?region, and many of the chronically vulnerable households will easily tip into food insecure conditions, which will quickly deteriorate as the consumption year progresses,” said the US-based organisation.
The threat of the El Nino conditions would worsen Zimbabwe’s food security situation at a time the country is trying to improve crop production.
Aid agencies have predicted that up to 1.6 million Zimbabweans would be in need of food assistance during the lean season between January and April 2010.

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