Drought threatens southern Africa’s grain crops

Lack of rain due to the El Niño weather phenomenon is damaging southern Africa’s cereal grains production outlook and threatening already fragile food security in the region, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The foreseen shortfall in production, especially for maize (corn), is expected to intensify households’ food insecurity, push up domestic prices and spur a surge in import needs across the subregion, according to an April 24 assessment from FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System. White maize accounts for almost 20% of calories consumed in the subregion. Acute food insecurity in southern Africa, estimated at 16 million people in the first three months of 2024, could deteriorate in late 2024, the FAO said. Food prices, already rising at annual rates above 10%, are likely to rise further and, based on current projections, South Africa and Zambia, typically maize exporters, will not be able to cover the supply shortfall, ...