- Swaziland has found itself entangled in a food crisis, which resulted from a long-standing drought and soaring temperatures in the southern African country over the past months, a joint assessment mission of both the FAO and WFP has revealed.
Like most southern African countries, maize is a staple food in Swaziland, a country ruled by Africa’s last monarch, King Mswati III.
According to estimates, this year’s production was reduced by 60 percent compared to that of last year. The season is seen as the country’s worst harvest, which has left at least a third of the population without food.
From now against the next maize harvest season in April 2008 Swaziland needs to import 40,000 tonnes of food a third of its population.
The Swazi government admitted that maize production has been experiencing a sharp decline during the past 10 years, resulting to food crisis and price hikes of other cereal thus denying majority of the poor Swazis access to food.
The Swazi government has been urged to engage in crop diversification projects that will serve as substitution of maize. It is believed that maize is fragile to the climatic conditions in most parts of Africa.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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