The scorching sun beats down on parched earth, a stark contrast to the usual rhythm of life in southern and central Mozambique. The once verdant fields lie barren, a testament to a relentless dry spell that grips the region in an unprecedented mid-season squeeze. This is the grim reality for millions of Mozambicans facing a hunger crisis compounded by a perfect storm of weather woes.
El Niño, the notorious weather phenomenon, has flexed its muscles this year, bringing unwelcome drought to Mozambique’s doorstep. Between October 2023 and February 2024, the rains that nourishedAgri the nation’s breadbasket vanished. Instead, scorching temperatures became the unwelcome guest, leaving many areas with less than half their usual rainfall.
The scars of this climatic cruelty are etched deep. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) paints a sobering picture: a staggering 690,000 hectares of crops – a worrying 15% of the total planted area – lie withered and lost, victims of El Niño’s wrath. The domino effect is clear – below-average harvests are a grim certainty for 2024-2025, not just for Mozambique, but for a swathe of southern Africa.
This impending food shortage is a double blow for a nation already reeling. The 2022-2023 harvest, ravaged by multiple weather shocks, left its mark in the form of persistently high food prices. February 2024 saw a 12% surge in maize prices, a staggering 24% increase compared to the previous year.
The human cost is even more harrowing. 80% of Mozambicans depend on rain-fed subsistence farming, a precarious existence at the best of times. Now, over 20 million people find themselves in drought-stricken areas. Among them are 2.7 million who were already battling food insecurity before El Niño tightened its grip.
As Mozambique enters the lean season – a time of depleted food reserves – the situation is expected to worsen dramatically. Experts predict a rise in “IPC 3+” conditions, signifying severe food insecurity. An estimated 1.25 million people currently facing these difficulties are on the precipice of an even more desperate situation – “IPC 4+” or severe/emergency food insecurity.
This translates to a harsh reality – more families will be forced to rely on markets for their basic needs, a luxury many cannot afford. The spectre of negative coping mechanisms like reduced meal sizes and rationing looms large. Children, often the most vulnerable, may bear the brunt of this hardship.
The Mozambican government is not sitting idly by. Rehabilitation of water systems, distribution of drought-resistant seeds, and cash assistance programs are all part of the fight against hunger. International support is also being sought as the situation unfolds.
The race against time is on. Whether Mozambique can weather this perfect storm of weather woes and ensure food security for its people remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this unfolding crisis.
