Add us as your preferred source on Google to see more of our content in Search.
Add to Preferred SourcesThe United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) began distributing seeds and farming tools to approximately 11,000 families affected by Cyclone Idai.
In Mozambique, Cyclones Idai and Kenneth six weeks later and related floods, affected over 2.2 million people and left 1.65 million people severely food insecure, nearly double the food insecure population in 2018. Cyclone Idai alone damaged approximately 800,000 hectares of crops.
The vulnerable small-hold farming households that will receive assistance include all the families (over 50,000 individuals) in nearly 50 of the 68 resettlement sites established after Cyclone Idai, which made landfall in Mozambique on March 14. The distributions will be in the provinces of Manica and Sofala.
The packages include seeds: tomato, onion, cabbage, okra and couve (kale), along with tools (two hoes, one machete and one watering can). These diversified crops will draw residual moisture from the soil in lowland areas, and their harvest will contribute to food security and nutrition for households and communities. With these early maturing vegetables, crops can be harvested beginning 90 days after planting. After the distribution of vegetable seeds, FAO District Services of Economic Activities (SDAE) technicians will continue support with technical assistance to growers.
“Cyclone Idai caused immense loss including homes, crops and arable land, which is devastating for families that depend on subsistence farming,” said FAO Representative in Mozambique Olman Serrano. “This distribution of seeds and farming tools will assist these affected families to jumpstart their agricultural activities in their effort to rebuild their livelihoods.”
More than 83,000 people (over 16,700 households) who were displaced and could not return home are currently living in 68 different resettlement sites, established by the Government of Mozambique.
For this seed and tools distribution, FAO and humanitarian partners are beginning distributions in areas where populations are more vulnerable, and in locations where the Government of Mozambique has already allocated plots of land for families displaced by Cyclone Idai, to be used for machambas, small holder planting.
Families who experienced crop damage and loss of food, seed reserves, and livestock are prioritized in the distributions, with additional priorities for woman-headed households, the elderly and other disadvantaged groups.
Original source: IOM
Published on 06 September 2019