Hey amigos! 📢 Brace yourselves as Southern Africa faces a tough season ahead. An El Niño-induced drought is hitting hard, threatening food supplies across the region. 🌍💧
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns that the dryness sweeping through the sub-region could lead to significant food shortages in the 2024-25 agricultural season. 🚜🌽
\"Concerns mostly relate to a likely downturn in agricultural production and its implications for food availability and access, due to losses of income for rural households and potential upturns in prices driven by supply pressures,\" the FAO noted in its recent report. 📉💰
What's the scoop? ⛈️ Rainfall has been way below average, and the forecast isn’t looking any better for March and April 2024. This means cereal crops are unlikely to bounce back, and yields are expected to drop. 🌾❌
Why does this matter? With crops failing, Southern Africa might need to import grain to meet its food needs. This could lead to higher prices and make it harder for families to put food on the table. 🍽️💔
Stay tuned, and let's hope for better rains ahead! 🌦️🙏🏽
Reference(s):
El Niño-induced drought could force southern Africa to import grain
cgtn.com
