TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF(11 February)
Harvesting of the 2003/04 short Vuli season cereal crops in the bi-modal rainfall areas is almost complete. The overall outlook is poor due to inadequate rainfall. In a few of the highland areas in Kilimanjaro Region, crops such as maize and beans were reported to be in good condition. The aggregate 2003/04 production of cereals has been forecast at about 4 million tonnes, about 11 percent below the previous marketing year and 5 percent below the average for the previous five years. Below normal rains have also affected pasture conditions and raised alarms concerning livestock productivity. However, recent rains have raised hopes for some recovery.
Reflecting low supply, maize prices continued to rise in several markets, aggravating the food-security situation of a large number of people. Sharp increases in maize prices were noted particularly in the southern highlands and central Tanzania.
Serious food shortages were reported in several regions, including Dodoma, Shinyanga, Singida, Manyara, Lindi, Coast and Morogoro.Also, there are pockets of food insecurity in Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Mwanza, Mara and Tabora Regions, where crops failed due to drought. The Food Security Information Team (FSIT) and WFP prioritized 24 districts in 10 regions to receive available food aid, which is expected to be sufficient for only 2 to 3 months between December 2003 and February 2004.