Drought hit Tanzanian farmers
Poor performance
of rains during the current agricultural season has affected the livelihood of
farmers and pastoralists.The Famine Early Warning System now reports that many parts
of the country have experienced food shortages associated with a depletion of
maize stocks which is the major stable for many Tanzania.Maize prices have increased across all markets with Dar
es Salaam having seen an increase of over 40 percent compared to the same
period last year. In January, the Government conducted an assessment on food
and nutrition security in the country.
The assessment recommended enhancing access to food through
food subsidies, provision of early maturing varieties and sensitization of
communities to use available food sparingly.
However, reports by the government have said that Tanzania
is food self-sufficient at the national level. However, localized food deficits
occur at regional, district and household levels mainly due to dependence on
rain-fed agriculture and limited use of modern farming techniques.
80 percent of the population relies on subsistence
farming and 28 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Tanzania
is classified as a Least Developed Country, ranking among the lowest on the
Human Development Index.
According to the National Nutrition Survey (2015), 35
percent of children under the age of five are stunted in Tanzania.
Maoni
Chapisha Maoni