MALI (24 May)
Land preparation is underway and first planting has started in the extreme south, following first rains in May. Planting will progress northwards following the onset of the rains. Availability of seeds may be limited in the regions hard hit last year by desert locust invasion and poor rainfall.
The food situation has been worsening in drought- and desert locust-affected regions of the country, in spite of steps taken by the Government. Millet prices continue to climb, while livestock prices have been falling. This reduces access to main food staples by vulnerable households, notably pastoral and agro-pastoral groups, which were hit especially hard. A nutritional survey carried out by “Acción Contra el Hambre” in parts of Mali’s Kidal region showed that among children under five years, nearly one-third was suffering from global malnutrition
Emergency measures taken by Governments include subsidized sales of 15 000 tonnes of animal feed and the authorization granted to traders to import 60 000 tonnes of rice exempted from levies.
WFP has prepared an EMOP to feed an estimated 444 500 people from March through November, but as of 21 May only 11 percent of the requirements have been received. FAO also appealed for funds to provide agricultural inputs and assist pastoralists in the affected Sahelian countries, including Mali. So far, less than 20 percent of the $11.4 million required has been received. More funds are urgently needed to respond to the worsening situation.