WORLD
FOOD PROGRAMME
FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION
A Joint FAO/WFP Report on the Crop and Food Situation in the Country
for the Development Partners Group Meeting of July 2007
Highlights
1.
The Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been contained, Government
declared recently. However, Government urged dealers in the
livestock sectors and animal products consumers to remain
cautious of the disease. The Ministry of Livestock Development
(MLD) and FAO continue with capacity building activities on
surveillance and diagnosis of RVF in livestock and to improve
preparedness in the event of recurrence.
2.
Crop harvesting and drying is going on in the unimodal rainfall
areas following cessation of the msimu season. The masika season
is also ceasing in the bimodal rainfall areas. Crop harvests are
likely to be good except for some locations where rainfall was
below average (for example in Morogoro and in the northern
highlands) or other hazards occurred (like rodents in Shinyanga).
3.
Food availability is good across the country mainly due to presence
of 2006/07 carry over stocks and supplies from this year harvests.
Access to food is also improving as new supplies are lowering
prices on markets and pastoral incomes are getting better due to
good animal conditions and containment of the RVF scare.
4.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives
(MAFC) has finalized the preliminary crop production forecast for
2006/07 and food security situation outlook for 2007/08. The
latter has been projected to be above total food requirements,
however with pockets for food shortages in eight regions.
5.
The government owned strategic grain reserve has a total of
125,000 MT or 83% of the recommended stock level.
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UN-FAO
1.
Rift Valley Fever (RVF)
The Minister for Livestock Development announced through the Parliament
recently that the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been contained. He, however, urged
all persons dealing with livestock and livestock products consumers to continue
heeding all precautionary measures for good human and animal health. Although
the disease is controlled, the Government and the FAO continue with capacity
building activities to improve preparedness and dealing with the disease in case of
recurrence. Particular ongoing activities include procurement of surveillance and
diagnosis equipment for RVF for the Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs),
training VIC and extension staff on various RVF aspects and collection of samples
from almost all the regions for RVF testing.
RVF broke out in Arusha region in January and spread fast to many other regions
causing panic, loss of livestock and human deaths. Consumption of red meat fell
lowering incomes from the livestock sector. Prices of red meat substitutes rose
sharply becoming less affordable by poor income consumers. Reportedly, the
situation is now returning to normal.
2.
Progress of the 2006/07 Agricultural season
Following cessation of the seasonal rains (msimu) in the unimodal areas from
May, crop harvesting and drying continue in most of these areas. Some of the
crops are at the maturity stage in these areas. In the bimodal areas the masika
season is also at cessation. The rains were good mainly around Lake Victoria and
in the north coast, favoring good crop performance. However, rodent attacks in
the Lake Victoria Basin (for example in Shinyanga Region) are likely to reduce the
harvests. Crop performance prospects are below average in parts of Morogoro
region and the northern highlands, for example in Kilimanjaro and Arusha
regions, where rainfall was below-average causing poor crop development and
even wilting.
As the dry season sets in and progresses, vegetation is drying up. Even though
pasture availability is still satisfactory which, together with the prevailing good
availability of water, livestock have good conditions. As a result, milk availability
is about normal during this time of the year. With the subsiding of the RVF,
animal prices are likely to improve.
3.
Food Supply and food security implications
The increased food deliveries on the market following the msimu harvests,
coupled with the 2006/07 carryover stocks, are causing further food prices
declines on many markets. The low food prices are enabling low-income marketdependant households to have increased access to food.
Good livestock conditions are favouring increased milk supply and intake which,
coupled with increased purchasing power from good livestock and their products
prices, contributes to improved nutritional status of the pastoralists.
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UN-WFP
4.
Food Security Outlook for 2007/08
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives (MAFC) has finalized
the preliminary food production forecast for the 2006/07 crop season and food
security situation outlook for 2007/08. According to the forecast, which will be
released officially during the MAFC’s budget speech in Dodoma on 4 th and 5th July,
the food security situation is projected to remain favourable across the country,
with Self Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) estimated at 109%. Despite this favourable
situation, some pockets of food deficit are likely to exist in some areas where
rainfall performance was erratic. The forecast further highlights regions of
Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Shinyanga, Singida, Pwani, Tabora and Lindi to
have localized food shortages.
5.
Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR)
The Government owned strategic grain reserve has a total of 125,000 MT or 83%
of the recommended stock level. The available stocks should be sufficient for
intervention on pending food shortages during the 2007/08 consumption year.
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