Floods, cyclones cause crop losses in parts of southern Africa

Floods and cyclones have destroyed thousands of hectares of crops and infrastructure in southern Africa, with the greatest damage in Mozambique, Madagascar and Zambia. However, the heavy precipitation may have beneficial effects in other parts of these countries, compensating partly for crop losses. FAO has requested close to $3.8 million to provide assistance to flood-affected communities in Mozambique and Madagascar.

In Mozambique, heavy rainfall throughout the month of January and the first half of February, compounded by persistent, heavy rains in neighbouring countries, has led to flooding throughout the Zambezi river basin with an estimated 285,000 people affected. In a separate incident farther south, Cyclone Favio struck on 22 February, affecting an estimated 150 000 people. Infrastructure and thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed.

FAO’s main proposed response targets approximately 87 000 agricultural households which have been made food insecure due to loss of assets, food stocks and new production. Assistance will involve urgent rehabilitation of productive assets and replanting of crops for the secondary agricultural season (April to July).

Families who lost part or all of their agricultural assets will be given vouchers that can be redeemed for seeds, tools and other implements, as well as small livestock, at input trade fairs organized by FAO and the government of Mozambique in affected districts. The fairs will attract commercial traders and thus also support local trade development.

In Madagascar, a series of severe cyclones and tropical storms over the past four months have damaged agricultural production in several regions. An estimated 200,000 farmers have been affected, with the potential loss of up to 80 percent of crops in some locations. FAO is appealing for US$850,000 to restore agricultural production for the flood-affected farmers during the 2007 farming year through the provision of agricultural inputs and related assistance.

Zambia has experienced exceptionally high rainfall since early January, provoking flooding in many parts of the country. Crops are reported to have been swept away by the water, while the remaining crops are stunted. In the short to medium term, poor harvests and outbreaks of livestock disease are expected to increase the food insecurity of vulnerable households. FAO will be appealing for funding in the coming days to provide the needed support for them.

FAO