CROPS WIPED OUT BY FLOODS IN SOUTHERN MOZAMBIQUE AND AFFECTED POPULATION LIKELY TO DEPEND ON FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH 2000 - 3 March 2000
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Food security in southern Mozambique has been seriously jeopardized by the worst floods for nearly half a century. Severe damage and destruction have been inflicted to crops (both in fields and stores) and livestock, as well as to housing, communication infrastructure (roads, bridges, railways, telephone lines, etc.). A full assessment of the agriculture and livestock damage is not yet possible. However, near-total crop losses are almost certain in the southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inha mbane, where the most productive areas such as Boane and Chokwe are completely submerged, while serious losses are expected in the central provinces of Manica and Sofala. Preliminary estimates from provincial authorities indicate that at least 150 000 hectares of foodcrops have been lost to the floods in the five affected provinces. Livestock losses for the three southern provinces are provisionally estimated at 30 percent of the total cattle population. Extensive losses of small animals, such a s goats and chickens, are also reported. In these traditionally food-deficit provinces, the sharp reduction in cereal production in 2000 will be compounded by loss of farmers' food and seed stocks in household granaries.