WORLD FOOD
PROGRAMME
FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION
Report on the National Food Security Situation
for the DPG Meeting of February 2011
Highlights
1. Food insecure households are targeted with food assistance
The government is currently targeting food insecure and vulnerable household with food assistance
from the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA). About 4,000 Mt have been released from the NFRA
for this purpose
2. Crop Pests and animal Diseases outbreak
There has been outbreak of crop pests and animal disease in some regions and control measures
are in place to contain the problems.
3. Government is planning to assess food situation in the bimodal rainfall areas
The Government and partners are jointly planning to undertake a comprehensive food security and
nutrition assessment covering 20 districts in six regions in the bimodal rainfall areas in Tanzania
Mainland later this month.
4. Government reserve stocks swells to over 208,000 Metric Tons (MT)
The Government through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has been building its
emergency reserve to over 208,000 MT accounting to about 140% of the recommended annual
level of 150,000 MT.
5. Food insecure households are targeted with seeds assistance
FAO is currently distributing emergency seed in 24 districts using part of the financial contribution
made by DfID early this year. Approximately 218,000 are targeted.
6. Floods Alert in Southern African countries
7. Food prices fairly stable in Tanzania compared to Global indicators
Although according to the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) the global prices of maize and wheat rose
by up to 3.4% in January 2011 from December 2010 and blaming the increase on declining
supplies, the trend in Tanzania shows prices of those commodities stabilizing to their five-year
average.
8 The CAADP Investment Plan is being finalized, as the government-led awareness
workshops have been held in various zones of the country. Technical review of the draft
1
Investment Plan is progressing with external support from the FAO Hqs and some Development
Partners in the agriculture and nutrition sector in the country.
2
1. Implementation of the Food Security and Nutrition interventions recommended by
September 2010 assessment
Following the assessment report conducted by the MUCHALI (Mfumo wa Uchambuzi wa Uhakika wa
Chakula na Lishe) teams highlighting the food security and nutrition situation for 2010/11 in the
country the Tanzania National Relief Committee (TANDREC) met in December 2010 and approved
the recommended interventions in the most critical areas.
The report indicated overall significant food security and nutrition improvements in the country,
compared to the 2009/10 market year with a larger part of the population likely to have fairly
stable access to food at least until January 2011. Nevertheless, the report highlighted 423,530
people mostly from the Councils of Longido, Monduli, Ngorongoro, Ruangwa and Simanjiro to be
facing acute food access problems, and requiring food assistance amounting to 13,766 metric tons
(MT) for the period of November 2010 to January 2011, comprising of 1,376 MT for free
distributions to 42,353 extremely resource weak people with low resilience; and the remaining
12,386 MT for subsidized prices for 381,177 people. Furthermore, the report recommended seed
assistance amounting to 3,208 MT to the resource weak and vulnerable households for supporting
recovery of their livelihoods.
The DMD in the PMO is currently involved in coordinating food distribution to the targeted
vulnerable households. Since July 2010, about 3,000 MT of maize grains have been drawned from
the NFRA for food insecure population through the DMD-PMO.
2. Reported outbreaks of pests and diseases
2.1 Rodents:
New rodent outbreaks continue to pose a threat to crop production and household food security.
Control and surveillance processes by both MAFC and Local Government Authority experts are
continuing in all the infested District Councils in the regions of (Mtwara, Morogoro, Pwani, Arusha ,
Lindi, Ruvuma and Arusha The magnitude of the outbreak, this year, appears to be bigger than in
the past two years. While the Government is taking necessary control measures, it may need
external support.
2.2. Armyworms:
Outbreak has been reported in Lindi Rural (Lindi Region) and Mvomero District (Morogoro Region).
Teams of experts are in the field undertaking control measures.
2.4.
Swine fever
Swine fever disease outbreak was reported end of December 2010 in three districts of Mbeya Region
namely; Kyela, Rungwe and Ileje. Of the three, Kyela is most affected in 8 of its wards reporting over
460 animals dead; Rungwe, over 300 animals reported dead and Ileje around 14 animals dead.
A team comprising of Veterinarians from the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries working
in close collaboration with the districts’ and regional experts looked into the matter to ascertain the
severity of the problem.
Current Situation
The situation is currently under control, with much reduced mortalities as a result of close cooperation
between the District Commissioners and the District Veterinary Officers in enforcing the relevant laws
and regulations.
3
3.
Government to assess the impact of poor short rains performance
A comprehensive food security and nutrition assessment covering 20 districts in six regions in the
bimodal rainfall areas in Tanzania Mainland is tentatively planned to take place from mid February
this year. This assessment has been triggered by various reports including the final food crop
production forecast by the Ministry of Agriculture in January 2011 indicating reduced food
production in localized areas due to below normal rainfall performance during the 2010/11 vuli
season.
The assessment will be conducted in the following districts: Shinyanga (R), Meatu, Kahama,
Shinyanga (M), Kishapu, Maswa, Ngorongoro, Meru, Karatu, Monduli, Rorya, Musoma (M), Musoma
(R), Bunda, Tarime, Mvomero, Morogoro (R), Same, Mwanga and Magu.
The assessments is anticipated to determine the impact of the poor food production output on the
peoples’ livelihoods, and their food security and nutrition, as well as the required intervention for
the vulnerable populations.
4. Emergency food stocks build up to over 208,000 MT
The Government through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has been building its
emergency reserve to 208,321MT accounting to about 140% of the recommended level of 150,000
MT. During the current marketing season, 2010 -2011, the government has purchased over
168,000 MT, an activity which is still ongoing in maize surplus areas. The stocks are prepositioned
in the NFRA’s seven (7) strategic locations of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Songea, Makambako,
Dodoma, Sumbawanga and Shinyanga. The Government has also released about 3,000MT from
this reserve for various food security interventions in the country since July 2010.
5.
Emergency Seed Distribution
FAO has been involved with distribution of maize, paddy and sorghum seed to 24 districts using part of
the financial contribution from DFID made available at the beginning of last year. Over 211,600
households have currently been provided with seed aid amounting to over 398 MT of maize seed, 420
MT of sorghum seed and 121 MT of Paddy seed. All the seed has been delivered, distributed and
planted in most farmers’ fields
6. Floods Alert in Southern African countries
According to the Regional rainfall forecast, all countries in the Southern African region (under
SADC) are expected to receive normal to above-normal between January and March 2011. This has
been flowed by release of alert on possible floods with potential negative consequences to the lives
and livelihood of the people living along floods prone areas. Response preparedness measures
including contingency are being activated in each country by the national disaster management
authorities. Although Tanzania ranks low in the likely scenario, monitoring of early warning
indicators and activation of emergency contingency plan is crucial.
7. Availability of staple foods and food prices
Although according to the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) the global prices of maize and wheat
rose by up to 3.4% in January 2011 from December 2010 and blaming the increase on
declining supplies, the trend in Tanzania shows prices of those commodities stabilizing to their
five-year average (2006-2010); and further analysis revealed that they are 26-35% lower than
those of January 2010. This trend implies a satisfactory availability and supply of food
commodities to rural and urban markets despite a failed 2010/11 short rains (vuli) season.
4
Figure 1: Average Monthly Wholesale Prices of Maize in Reference Urban
Markets in Tanzania Mainland
Arusha Market
Dar es Salaam Market
60000
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
2011
2006-10 Average
2010
2011
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Jul
Aug
Jun
May
Apr
Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2010
Mar
0
0
Feb
2006-10 Average
Shinyanga Market
Dodoma Market
60000
Tsh Per 100 Kilogram
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
2011
2010
2006-10 Average
5
2011
Nov
Dec
Sep
Oct
Jul
Aug
Jan
Feb
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Jan
Feb
2010
May
Jun
0
0
Mar
Apr
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
60000
2006-10 Average
Figure 2: Average Nominal Monthly Wholesale Prices of Wheat in Reference
Urban Markets in Tanzania Mainland
Sumbawanga Market
Morogoro Market
120000
100000
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
2011
2010
2009
2011
Dec
Oct
Nov
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Jul
2010
Aug
Jun
May
0
Apr
0
Mar
20000
Jan
20000
Jun
40000
May
40000
60000
Apr
60000
80000
Mar
80000
Feb
100000
Feb
2009
Tanga Market
120000
100000
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
80000
60000
40000
20000
2009
2011
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
0
Jan
Tsh per 100 Kilogram
120000
2010
8. CAADP PROCESS GAINING MOMENTUM IN TANZANIA
The CAADP Investment Plan is being finalized, as the government-led awareness workshops have
been held in various zones in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar since January 2011. Review of the
draft Investment Plan is in progress with external support from the FAO Hqs and Development
Partners in the agriculture and nutrition sector among other stakeholders. The Investment Plan
will be presented to the Technical Review meeting for final input from wider stakeholders.
Thereafter, the Government will convene a Business Meeting to bring in potential investors to
share their view and interest to support the plan financially.
>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<=
6