APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The southern African region is expected to receive below-average rainfall during the forthcoming 2023/24 agricultural season that kicks off in October, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) on Monday.
In a food security outlook for Zimbabwe, FEWSNET said there is likely to be a delayed start to the rainfall season for the whole of southern Africa due to the presence of the El Nino weather phenomenon that is associated with low rainfall in the region.
“From October to December 2023, the start of the rainy season is likely to be mixed with a possible delayed start due to El Nino,” the network said.
It added: “However, December to March precipitation, during the height of the wet season, is likely to be below average.”
This is expected to negatively impact the 2023/24 agricultural season, including agricultural harvests and pastures for livestock, FEWSNET warned.
“In most semi-arid areas, water and pasture conditions for livestock are likely to be critically affected due to drier-than-normal conditions following erratic rainfall during the 2022/23 rainy season.”
The anticipated poor harvest is expected to see a spike in the number of food-insecure households across southern Africa and comes at a time when the region is trying to recover from the negative impact on food security of the Russia-Ukraine war.
JN/APA