Tanzania's Food Concerns Deepen

DAR ES SALAAM - Jan 14/04 - SNS -- Tanzania's concern at the lack of food may deepen due to further failed rains, the lack of available government food aid and international donations, government and donor officials told IRIN on Tuesday.

The response plan, which was prepared in August 2003 when indicators pointed to a pending drought in Tanzania, was "well conceived but implementation is so far unsatisfactory", the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) added in its most recent report on Tanzania.

The plan called for the release of 32,540 metric tons (MT) of maize or corn from the nation's strategic grain reserve for subsidized sale to food insecure households during October and November 2003. Donors were due to provide 45,000 MT of maize to sustain farming households between December 2003 and March 2004.

Meanwhile, import duties were waived on maize to boost market supplies and there were calls for additional donations of seed and fertilizers.

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here