Executive Summary
Mozambique is one of the Southern African country that lies on the low-lying plateau that constitutes 25 rivers and among them is Zambezi river. For several decades after gaining independence from Portuguese, the country has not recovered from the past events. For instance, the country has suffered from large-scale emigration, severe drought, economic dependence on South Africa, and the prolonged civil war. One of the problems that the country is facing is the issues concerning the food security. The main issues include being prone to disaster and is vulnerable to adverse climate conditions, acute and chronic food insecurity, and over-reliance of the imported foods (USAID, 2015; WFP, 2016; Magombeyi et al., 2013; WFP, 2010). As a result, the country has been constrained to achieve food availability, accessibility, and security. The main effects of the food insecurity are poverty, malnutrition, and diseases. Impacts of the civil war and hazards such as floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, and climatic changes have been the causes of the food security issues (WFP, 2010; Raimundo, et al. 2014; Magombeyi et al. 2013). Consequently, the country has suffered from issues malnutrition, poverty, diseases, and deaths. The Mozambican government has teamed up with different non-governmental organization to reduce chronic malnutrition and to reduce GHG. These measures have helped to fight food security issues such as climate changes and Unsecured food, however this report recommends that if the government plans to reach its goals of eradicating climate changes and chronic food insecurity, more cooperation is needed between the government and international organization to accelerate progress.
1.Introduction
Mozambique is one of the Southern African countries that borders Tanzania to the north, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi to the West, and Swaziland and South Africa to the South. The country lies on the low-lying plateau that constitutes 25 rivers and among them is the commonly known river, River Zambezi. According to the 2014 census, the country has a population of 24 million residents with a birth rate of 38.83 per 1000 heads (Infoplease, 2015).
Mozambique is a Portuguese colony that acquired its independence in 1975. For about five decades since the county gained the independence, various issues have hindered the development of the country until the 1990s (CIA, 2016, Sec. 1). It includes large-scale emigration, severe drought, economic dependence on South Africa, and the prolonged civil war.
Currently, the food security problem in Mozambique is a multi-layered and multi-faceted issue affecting the country. Effects of the civil war, unsuitable climatic conditions, and poor food policies mainly cause the problem. Therefore, the report provides an insight into the common food security issues in Mozambique and explain the causes, effects, and responses to the issue.
2.Findings
2.1.Specific Food Security issues
The agricultural production in Mozambique relies on the small-scale cultivation that is also a significant source of income for most people, especially in the rural areas. According to the USAID report, Agriculture contributing about 25% of the GDP and employing over 80% of the country’s labor force (USAID, 2015, Par.1). However, the country is among the countries that are most prone to disaster and is highly vulnerable to adverse climate conditions.(WFP, 2016, Par.3). The report by the WFP continues to reveal that about 60% of the residents’ lives in the coastal regions that are extremely vulnerable to disasters such as storms, cyclones and flash floods (WFP, 2016, Par.3). Besides deteriorating the livelihoods of people in Mozambique, climatic shocks causes the destruction of the infrastructure, which subsequently impends economic growth and access to food. In general, such factors have contributed to hunger, extreme poverty, and lessened the effort to achieve environmental sustainability.
Another food security issue is the acute food insecurity issues. According to the WFP project, one of the districts that were mostly affected by food insecurity include Chigubo with more than 50 percent of food insecure in 2008 (Magombeyi, Taigbenu, and Barron, 2013, p.17). WFP report indicates, “In Gaza and Inhambane provinces, 138,000 people were facing acute food insecurity situation” (WFP, 2016, Par. 5). Mainly, the households that have four persons experience the acute food insecurity. The study conducted by WFP indicates that 32% of such households are likely to be headed by a woman(WFP, 2010, p.83). In addition, “Only 84% of these households have access to arable land while 65% live in rural areas. Just over half own, any livestock”. (WFP, 2010, p.83). The main causes of the acute food inequality inconsistent rainfall, theft, wild animal attacks, and the high price of inputs, which constitutes 45%, 19%, 11%, and 15% respectively (WFP, 2010, p.83).
Similarly, the chronic food insecurity in the country constitutes of households that have an average of four people. Surprisingly, 93% of this group have access to arable lands, 68% are living in rural areas, 60% have livestock, and 40% are poor (WFP, 2010, p.83). The main challenges identified for this group include inconsistent rainfall, the death of family member, wild animal attacks, and chronic illness of household member scoring 45, 16, 14, 14, and 14 percent consecutively (WFP, 2010, p.84). The WFP indicates that a third of Mozambique’s population are suffering from the chronic food insecurity, and 500,000 children between the age of 6 and 23 are undernourished (WFP, 2016, Par. 6). The problem of malnutrition among children remains a devastating problem constituting about 43% of the population. The main causes of this problem are low meal frequency, high levels of disease, poor diet diversity, teenage pregnancy, and poor breastfeeding practices (WFP, 2016, Par. 6).
2.2.Causes of the food security issues
2.2.1.Floods and droughts
The geographical location of Mozambique with a flat topography, lengthy coastline extending for more than 2,500 km, and being the river basins make the country more vulnerable to the seasonal floods. According to WFP (2010, p.70), 52% of the Mozambican territory lies in the international river basins. Therefore, the country is prone to seasonal floods that occur throughout the rainy season that starts from September to March. The impact of the foods is devastating. Floods cause the destruction of infrastructures, assets, livelihood, and crop devastation (WFP, 2010, p.70). In the country, droughts occur most frequently among other disasters because it occurs after every three to four years. WFP report illustrates, “The main problem is that affected populations do not have sufficient time to recover from the economic and social impacts provoked by droughts between one cycle and the next” (WFP, 2010, p.71). Such drought adversely affects the availability of food in the country because 95% of the crop production depends on rainfall (WFP, 2010, p.71).
2.2.2.Cyclones and earthquakes
On one hand, the areas that are mostly affected by the cyclones in Mozambique are the coastal areas. A report by WFP says that the eleven cyclones have occurred in the coastal region of the last ten years (WFP, 2010, p.71). The main provinces that have been hit by the cyclones include Nampula, Sofala, and Inhambane. On the other hand, areas that are exposed to earthquakes are the provinces that lie in the East Africa Rift system. To be specific, northern and central provinces of Mozambique are the most vulnerable. Such disasters usually affect crops and infrastructures, and hence hindering development and the country’s goal to eradicate hunger and poverty.
2.2.3.Climatic change and shocks
The climatic change in Mozambique is significantly affecting their ability to produce sustainable foods. WFP illustrate that for over the last 45 years, the average temperature has increased by 1.60C while rains have decreased and delayed. In the future, the average maximum temperature is expected to increase by 2.5-3 0C, which will consequently affect the crop cycle (WFP, 2010, p.71). The shocks that affect the food security in Mozambique include poor or inconsistent rainfall, the death of family member, wild animal attacks, and chronic illness of household member scoring.
2.3.Effects of the food security issues
2.3.1.Poverty
Despite the fast growing economy of Mozambique, the majority of the population are still living in poverty. For instance, “In 2008/2009, the national poverty headcount was 54.7%” (Raimundo, Crush, and Pendleton, 2014 p.18). Also found out that food insecurity in the Limpopo Basin it one of the causes of the poverty level, inadequate safety nets, unemployment, and unstable food production (Magombeyi, Taigbenu, and Barron, 2013, p.6).
2.3.2.Malnutrition and diseases
Malnutrition is one of the most direct effects of the food insecurity that affects children who may consequently face long-term cognitive and physical disabilities. Profoundly affected people by the food insecurity problems are prone to death due to inadequate food and poor diet. However, a study has shown that acute malnutrition is decreasing in the country. For instance, from 2003 to 2008 the prevalence of chronic malnutrition has decreased from 48% to 44% (WFP, 2010, p.6). Inadequate food and poor diet also lead to the prevalence of depression, stroke and heart disease, and high blood pleasure.
2.4.Government response
The government of Mozambique has collaborated with the various non-governmental organization to ensure food security and mitigate climate change in the country. For instance, the government collaborated with the CARE to reduce GHG and to help especially poor communities to emerge climate change realities (Ehrhart and Twena, 2006) . In addition, the WB under IDA has utilized the Mozambican government policy to rebuild the urban infrastructure for water supply in the country (Advicula, Elwood, and Khurana, 2009, p.17). The government also collaborated with the IFAD to create a market connection between the small-scale buyers and producers, use of technology in farming, renovating infrastructures, forming credit and saving groups. (IFAD, 2014, p.4). Moreover, WFP supports the government of Mozambique by supplying food assistance to approximately 698,000 people through different programs. (Anon, 2016). They assist the ministry of health in the country to develop sustainable system for integrating into the national health system over a long term, the execution of activities under the NRP, and help for the usage of the Multi-sectorial action plan to reduce Chronic Malnutrition.(WFP, 2016)
3.Summary of Findings and Conclusion
The finding illustrates that the food insecurity issues in Mozambique include prone to disaster and is highly vulnerable to adverse climate conditions, acute and chronic food insecurity, and over-reliance of the imported foods (USAID, 2015; WFP, 2016; Magombeyi et al., 2013; WFP, 2010). Such issues have been because of hazards such as floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, climatic changes, and shocks (WFP, 2010; Raimundo, et al. 2014; Magombeyi et al. 2013). Consequently, the Mozambican people have suffered from the impact of such issues that include malnutrition, poverty, and diseases. To mitigate such effects, the government has collaborated with several organizations to develop policies that can eradicate hunger, poverty, and achieve a sustainable environment.
4.Recommendations
• Enhance and incorporate Science and Technology in Agriculture.
• Increase and encourage agricultural production.
• Mitigate disasters through policies that aim to achieve sustainable environment.
• Use alternative methods of farming such as greenhouse farming.
Ensure good and stable governance.