Race against time in drought-ravaged Southern Africa to ensure 23 million people receive farming support
At least $109 million is urgently required for the provision of seeds and other agricultural inputs and services
Widespread crop failure has exarcerbated chronic malnutrition in the region.
28 July 2016, Rome - With only a few weeks before land preparation begins for the next main cropping season, some 23 million people in Southern Africa urgently need support to produce enough food to feed themselves and thus avoid being dependent on humanitarian assistance until mid 2018, FAO said today.
A FAO-prepared response plan aims to ensure that seeds, fertilizers, tools, and other inputs and services, including livestock support, are provided to small-holder farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists to cope with the devastating impact of an El Niño-induced drought in the region.