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Joint FAO/WFP Update
Development Partners Group (DPG) Meeting - 6 December
2005
FAO highlights

Both vuli (rainfall falling in bimodal areas from September through January) and msimu
(seasonal rains falling in unimodal areas from October through May) have been below
average and erratic in most parts of the country.

As result of poor rainfall performance some beans planted at the beginning of the
season in Kagera wilted and planting paddy nurseries in Mwanza and Shinyanga has
been delayed. Crops are also performing unsatisfactory in Arusha, Kilimanjaro and
Manyara. The rains, although below long term average, have helped to maintain
adequate pasture and water supply for livestock hence their condition and productivity
are still relatively good.

Staple food supplies to markets are relatively good although prices have begun to rise
as farmers’ saleable stocks dwindle. Government released 10,000 metric tones of maize
from the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) end of October as part of the 20,000 metric
tones of subsidized maize sales to food insecurity persons, who experienced poor
production in 2004/05 season and have limited income generating opportunities. As of
end of November SGR had a stock of maize of approximately 108, 800 metric tones.
WFP highlights

The government emergency food distribution is going on in 12 regions whereby, poorest
and food insecure households will access the grains at a subsidized price of Tshs 50 per
Kg.

Despite the appeal by some NGOs for food aid for the food insecure households, the
current Government intervention using its SGR stocks should alleviate the food
shortages in the affected areas without the need for external assistance.
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UNFAO
1.
Rainfall Performance
Rainfall that fall around this time of the year is most beneficial to crops in the bimodal rainfall
areas. This is a vuli rainfall season, which normally rain beginning end of September through
mid January. This year the rain started late, has been below average in most locations and is
characterized by poor distribution both spatially and over-time (see graphics).
Unimodal rainfall areas normally receive msimu (seasonal) rains from October through May with
a short dry spell interruption in between January and March. Rains in these areas have also
been below average this year but have not caused adverse effects on field crops.
2.
Agricultural activities and vegetation condition
As a result of poor rains, some of the beans planted in Kagera region at the beginning of the
season wilted or dried up whereas planting paddy nurseries was delayed in Mwanza and
Shinyanga regions. Planting was delayed in parts of the Northern Highlands (Manyara,
Kilimanjaro and Arusha Regions) as well as Tanga Region, and crop growth is unsatisfactory on
parts of these regions.
Rainfall, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Start of Season (SOS), Soil
Water Index (SWI) and Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI) graphics.
RFE for Dekad
2,
November:
Current vs Long
Term Mean
NDVI for Dekad
2,
November:
Current vs Long
Term Mean
Start
of
Season
anomally, Dekad 2,
November
Soil Water Index (%)
for maize (Current:
Dekad 2, November)
WRSI for maize,
Dekad
2,
November:
Extended to end of
season
Units = mm
Source: USGS/NOAA
Although rains have been poor, they have ensured water availability for livestock and pasture
rejuvenation both of which subsequently helped maintaining livestock health and productivity at
relatively satisfactory levels.
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Food situation
Farmers’ saleable stocks of staple foods are dwindling; reducing supplies to markets and,
subsequently prices have begun to rise but are still affordable. The food situation in rural areas
is still satisfactory but poised to start deteriorating in some locations, particularly where the
Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) done by the Food Security Information Team (FSIT) last
August found that shortages would emerge by the end of the year. In this respect, FSIT
recommended selling at subsidized price approximately 20,000 metric tones of maize to nearly
600,000 vulnerable persons in 39 districts. Most of these persons experienced poor crop
production in 2004/05 season and have limited income generating opportunities. Government
released over 9,000 metric tones of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserve end of October.
As of end of November, SGR had approximately 108,800 metric tones of maize while private
traders’ stocks by end of October exceeded 156,500 metric tones composed of maize (75,840
mt), wheat (60,517 mt), rice (20,075 mt) and sorghum (86 mt). End of November traders’ stocks
were slightly up from a total of 151,270 metric tones they had end of October.
UNWFP
4.
Government Emergency Intervention
The distribution of about 9,000 mts of maize from the strategic grain reserve (SGR) is going on
in the targeted 12 regions of Arusha, Manyara, Mara, Iringa, Dodoma, Tabora, Lindi Mtwara,
Shinyanga, Mwanza, Singida and Kilimanjaro. The distribution of the maize is managed by the
respective district councils, with supervision from the PMO – Disaster Management Department
(DMD). The poorest households are purchasing the grains at a subsidized price of Tshs 50 per
kg. The ongoing food intervention is part of the 20,000 mts of food recommended by the FSIT
for intervention in the areas facing food shortages during the lean period of November to
January 2006. Some NGOs have been monitoring the evolving food security situations in the
country, with very recent appeal launched by CARITAS to provide food aid to nearly 252,000
people facing food shortages in north-western Tanzania. The fact that the SGR is stocked with
about 109,000 mts of maize, the current localized food shortages should be addressed through
Government intervention.
The table below summarises the Government distribution plan.
Region
Kilimanjaro
Lindi
Lindi
Lindi
Lindi
Manyara
Mara
Mara
Mara
Mtwara
Mwanza
District
Moshi Rural
Ruangwa
Kilwa
Lindi rural
Liwale
Simanjiro
Bunda
Musoma rural
Tarime
Masasi
Misungwi
Tones
169
104
169
269
100
217
358
226
164
405
329
SGR Stocks Allocation Center
Arusha
Kipawa (DSM)
Kipawa (DSM)
Kipawa (DSM)
Kipawa (DSM)
Arusha
Shinyanga
Musoma
Musoma
Kipawa (DSM)
Shinyamga
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Arusha
Arusha
Arusha
Arusha
Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma
Iringa
Iringa
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro
Mwanza
Mwanza
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Singida
Singida
Singida
Tabora
Tabora
Tabora
Total
5
Karatu
Monduli
Arumeru
Ngorongoro
Dodoma rural
Kondoa
Mpwapwa
Iringa rural
Kilolo-Iringa
Same
Mwanga
Hai
Magu
Kwima
Meatu
Maswa
Singida rural
Manyoni
Iramba
Igunga
Tabora
Sikonge
FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
ORGANISATION
350
467
352
215
469
60
101
108
122
490
80
100
534
483
816
139
133
487
226
481
98
218
9,039
Arusha
Arusha
Arusha
Arusha
Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma
Makambako
Makambako
Arusha
Arusha
Arusha
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Shinyanga
Flow-up Food Security Monitoring
The recorded poor rainfall performance in the bimodal rainfall areas and the escalating cereal
prices in some parts of the country calls for continuous monitoring of food security situation in
the drought affected areas. The FSIT, as recommended previously, will undertake a rapid
assessment in the bimodal rainfall areas in January/February next year in order to update the
food security situation in the country.
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