Background

Political instability and violent civil conflicts have plagued the Central African Republic (CAR) since it gained independence from France in 1960. The country remains one of the poorest and least developed in the world and has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Africa. While security in CAR’s northeast stabilized in 2007, conflict in the northwest of the country escalated. In several provinces, violence between militant groups, government troops and armed criminal gangs forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes – often for a second time.

An estimated 197 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in CAR have sought refuge in urban centres or the bush and are subsequently cut off from their main source of livelihoods. Approximately 73 percent of the entire population live below the poverty line.

In 2007, the humanitarian community increased its presence in CAR and, as a result, was able to reach more beneficiaries than in previous years. It will be critical to build on this progress throughout 2008 and secure support for the country’s most vulnerable groups.

Challenges facing food security and livelihoods

Although CAR has abundant natural resources, pockets of conflict mean food insecurity is a continuing problem, especially in the north. While violence has led many people to abandon their villages, fighting and looting also destroyed crops, livestock and food reserves. Crop productivity has also been reduced by the incidence of pests. Cassava in particular is severely affected by mosaic disease.

According to a 2007 WFP emergency food needs assessment, many of those affected by conflict in CAR are eating no more than one meal per day and the chronic malnutrition rate in rural areas is around 41 percent.  Overall, food-security requirements in CAR range from an urgent need for humanitarian assistance (in conflict-affected areas of the north) to recovery and development assistance (in the centre and south of the country).

Rural households affected by HIV/AIDS are particularly vulnerable. As the effects of the disease weaken the household labour force, agricultural productivity diminishes. In turn, the nutritional quality of their meals is compromised at a time when it is more important than ever.

Across the country, there has been a reduction in agricultural practices such as beekeeping and inland fishing – activities that could help improve household nutrition and also provide income. The resumption of these practices is hampered by the lack of basic inputs. Vulnerable households in CAR simply cannot afford or cannot access agricultural tools and assets. The ensuing mismanagement of resources and bad farming practices have a negative impact on the already fragile natural environment.

FAO response

FAO is seeking US$4 325 200 for emergency and rehabilitation assistance in CAR in 2008. FAO proposes a programme to bolster food production and ensure access to nutritious food for over 100 000 households in CAR. Particular attention will be paid to conflict-affected areas in the northwest region as well as HIV/AIDS-affected and female-headed households.

FAO aims to establish a national food security monitoring system to ensure better planning for and responses to food and agriculture crises. To this end, it will also seek to facilitate coordination and communication between stakeholders and actors in the agriculture sector.

In an effort to secure the long-term availability of quality food staples, FAO plans to cultivate sorghum, groundnut, maize and black-eyed pea seed as well as cassava cuttings from vitro-plants resistant to the mosaic disease.

Other interventions will support vulnerable communities through the provision of small livestock and cattle vaccination services, fishing and beekeeping inputs. In addition, planned distribution activities and input trade fairs should allow better access to crop and vegetable seed, pesticides, gardening and agricultural tools.