Hardcore facts from the World Food Program and The Government of The Gambia.
On March 7, 2012, The Government of The Gambia issued a
Declaration of State of Public Emergency Resulting from Crop Failures and
Soaring Food Prices. The situation has continued to worsen. The World Food
Program (WFP) Gambia issued a statement on April 10 that of the 605,000 people
living in the districts most affected by crop failure, 428,000 people (of which
18 percent are children under the age of 5 years old) are directly affected by
the poor crops and are facing near starvation. In addition to the crop failure,
The Gambia faces a long-term shortage of healthy seeds to begin fighting the
drastic crop failure experienced in 2011. The ground-nut industry is the main
sustaining crop of the agricultural industry, with cashew playing an important
role also, but these two agricultural mainstays now face rapid decline in
production capabilities for the next five years A thorough analysis carried out
by the UN WFP and issued on April 9 reveals that The Gambia needs $20 million
to address general food relief, $1.5 million for medication, and $21 million
for agriculture and livestock. As of today, a total of $11 million has been
pledged. However, immediate needs are not being covered.
Statistics issued in The UN’s World Food Program Daa Nyeeno
Report of January 2012:
· * Overall crop production for the 2011/12
agro-pastoral season is expected to decline by 62% compared to the previous
year and by 50% compared to the 5-year average. Compared to the 2010, the
production of upland rice and groundnuts is expected to decline by 74% and 64%
respectively.
· * A cereal deficit of at least 214,000 metric tons
is expected in The Gambia from March onwards. While wholesale stocks of
imported rice are generally on the increase, currently they can cover the gap
by 35,000 metric tons leaving a shortage of 179,000 metric tons. On average,
farming households will experience an early and protracted lean season with the
expectation of finishing own food stocks 3-4 months after the harvest (by February-
March), down from the usual 6-7 months (by May-June).
· * Population most affected by the current drop in
crop production and in need of assistance amounts to at least 520,583 in most
affected rural districts. An additional 192,850 people living in the most
impoverished urban areas are considered most vulnerable to food insecurity due
to low incomes, declining purchasing power, continuous exposure to disaster
(primarily floods) and growing economic pressure from rural areas given the bad
harvest (interdependency). Food prices recorded their highest levels since the
2008 food price crisis. Compared to 2008 peak levels (December 2008), the
nominal price of imported rice is only 1% lower, while the prices of local
paddy and coarse grains are respectively 34.5% and 28.9% higher. Although the
prices of millet and maize have fallen compared to the previous quarter (-8.2%
and -10.3% respectively), and prices of imported rice are stabilizing, cereal
prices are generally expected to remain high and to continue to increase in
step with decreasing household stocks and growing demand, unless substantial
amounts of cereals will be imported.
· *Malnutrition (stunting) has increased in 2011,
affecting 11% of the under-5 children in rural areas (up from 10% in 2010) and
is at the highest level since 2006. In certain areas of the country (NBR-East,
LRR, CRR), stunting currently stands at nearly 20% and might rise higher
throughout the year, in particular in areas most affected by low crop
production and decreasing purchasing power.
· * Seed insecurity and declining purchasing power
at farmer level may adversely affect agricultural production, food security and
nutrition in 2012 and 2013. High reliance on agriculture (29% of GDP and 70% of
export value in 2009) may put in jeopardy the country’s overall economic growth
prospects and balance of payments given the current drop in production levels,
while the upcoming cropping season is at risk.
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