Tanzania Hunger Watch 2009 - Call for Action

OXFAM Says 17 Million Need Food Aid in East, Central Africa
By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
26 January 2009


As an international conference on food aid gets underway in Madrid, the British aid agency Oxfam is warning that 17 million people require emergency food assistance in East and Central Africa. The figures are part of a broader report on the global food crisis, which the group says affects one billion people worldwide.




According to Oxfam, some 25 million people in the East and Central Africa region, which stretches from Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo to Tanzania, lack food security.

In Somalia, where nearly two decades of civil conflict show little sign of abating, more than 2.5 million people, nearly one-third of the population, require humanitarian assistance. In Eritrea, the agency says nearly 40 percent of the population has been affected by high food prices. In Djibouti, Burundi, and Kenya, over a quarter of the population faces food insecurity.

According to Oxfam's Deputy Regional Director, Fred Kwame, staple food prices have risen across the region in the past year while incomes have not, and rainfall in the last months of 2008 was less than expected.

"Everyone had hoped that the October to December rain would have helped to make things better, but unfortunately the rains did not come adequately," says Kwame. "This means that the next round of harvest for this year is not looking good; the picture doesn't look very good. And that is the more reason why governments aid agencies, international organizations, and communities should start working together to begin to plan contingency for when the harvest, or non-harvest occurs."

The group's Kenya country director, Philippa Tayor said the situation in Kenya is particularly concerning. A shortage of grain has left some 10 million people without food security, and the government recently said it would declare a food emergency. Kenya experienced 28 percent inflation in 2008, its highest level since 1994. And while food prices in many parts of the world have begun to fall from their peaks last year, Kenya has not seen a similar drop.

"That means that all of the money that was being spent on things like education, on alternatives to food such as their rent and everything else is having to be redirected to food, or they're going to have to cut down on food. If you look at the figures now and this is what is triggering the governments call, you will see that most of Kenya is now considered highly food insecure," says Tayor.

Kenya recently said it would import food from Tanzania, which unlike its neighbors has maintained adequate food security, according to Oxfam.

Oxfam's figures on East and Central Africa are part of a larger report on food security, which the group says affects a billion people worldwide. The report coincides with the opening of a two-day international conference on food security in Madrid.

Bingwa Mwanakijiji:

Kama kuna uwezekano ungeanzisha thread party II kama discussion ya mwaka mpya.

Ndugu mwananchi,

Suala hili sio nyeti kidogo. Lakini kama kawaida yetu CCM tumejipanga ili tutumie fursa hii ya njaa kupata misaada just kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu 2010. Kwa hiyo tunadhani kwa kuwa Kenya wameanza kutembeza bakuli lao mapema kuliko tulivyotarajia na sisi tukiwalilia jamaa saa hizi tunaweza kuwachanganya.

Lakini ngoja mvua hizi zinazokuja au kutarajiwa kuja zisije tutakuja na bakuli kubwa mara mbili ya lile la Kenya. Vinginevyo, unatuingilia kwa sababu wale changudoa wa ksiasa tuliowapa tenda za kufanya biashara na Kenya watashindwa kufanya kazi tuliyowatuma. Subiri. Bakuli litakuja bila wasiwasi. Hii ni Bongo au unabisha weee?

Tanzania stops food exports as famine looms

APA-Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) With 240,000 Tanzanians in immediate need of relief food and the situation becoming increasingly precarious, the Tanzanian government has banned further exports of food grains, APA learnt here Thursday.

Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives spokesperson Richard Kasuga told APA in an interview on Thursday in Dar es Salaam that the country does not have enough food for its own citizens\’ consumption and could, therefore, not afford to export to its equally needy neighbours.

Kasuga said: \"The more than 240,500 people countrywide are likely to be food insecure and they need more than 7,182 tonnes of food immediately.\"

He named the most vulnerable regions of the country as Manyara, Coast, Tanga and Morogoro, where the government will need to distribute free food to the poor.

\"We have no surplus food to sell outside the country. The food we have is reserved for Tanzanians who also are faced with hunger and starvation,\" Kasuga said, adding that the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) also was in need of resupplying.

Early this week, Kenya announced that it would have to import maize from its immediate neighbours, Tanzania and Uganda, to bridge a shortfall, which has left 10 million of its people in danger of starvation.

African Press Agency - Item

whistling whistling.. shaking my head..

Tunaendelea kufuatilia suala la Njaa. Sasa kwa vile CCM walishindwa vibaya kule Tarime, sijui serikali yake itafanya vipi kuonesha kuwa inajali watu wa Rorya. Labda hapa ndipo kuichagua CCM kwaweza kuonekana umuhimu wake.

Rorya yakumbwa na uhaba wa chakula



na Sitta Tumma, Tarime (Tanzania Daima)




WILAYA mpya ya Rorya, mkoani Mara, inakabiliwa na uhaba mkubwa wa chakula, ambapo zaidi ya tani 10,000 za chakula zinahitajika, ili kuwanusuru wananchi kuangamia na baa la njaa.

Sanjari na hayo, wilaya jirani ya Tarime mkoani humo imeelezwa kuwa na hazina kubwa ya chakula, na kwamba wananchi wake wanajitosheleza kwa chakula, hivyo hawatakumbwa na njaa, labda itokee dharura.

Mkuu wa Wilaya (DC) ya Tarime na Kaimu Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Rorya, Stanley Kolimba, alisema hayo mwishoni mwa wiki kwenye kikao cha Baraza la Madiwani kilichofanyika katika ukumbi wa halmashauri ya wilaya hiyo.

Alisema kimsingi wananchi wa Rorya wapo katika hali ya hatihati, kutokana na kutokuwa na chakula cha kutosha, hali ambayo imeanza kutishia maisha ya raia wa wilaya hiyo mpya.

Wilaya ya Rorya ni wilaya mama ya Tarime, ambapo hivi karibuni ilipewa hadhi ya kuwa wilaya kamili, licha ya kuwa na jimbo la uchaguzi kwa miaka mingi iliyopita, na kwamba wananchi wake hivi sasa wananyemelewa na tatizo hilo la ukosefu wa chakula.

Kwa mujibu wa Kolimba, Serikali kupitia wizara husika inapaswa kuisaidia wilaya hiyo chakula cha kutosha na kinachohitajika, ili wananchi wake waweze kujinasua na janga hilo la njaa.

“Hali si nzuri hapa nchini, wilaya nyingi zinakabiliwa na njaa, ikiwemo Wilaya ya Rorya, wilaya hii inahitaji tani 10,000 za chakula kwa ajili ya kuwanusuru wananchi wake.

“Watu hawana chakula, na baadhi yao wapo katika hali mbaya zaidi, hivyo kupatikana kwa tani hizo za vyakula itasaidia kuwakomboa wananchi hawa. Tarime haina upungufu wowote wa chakula, ina hazina kubwa ya chakula,” alisema DC huyo wa Tarime.

Aidha, alitoa mwito kwa wananchi hao wa Wilaya ya Tarime kulima mazao yanayostahimili ukame na yanayokomaa upesi, ili kuondokana na baa la njaa ambalo kimsingi limekuwa likisababishwa na ukosefu wa mvua.

Kwa upande mwingine, Kolimba aliwataka wananchi wa Wilaya ya Tarime kuanza kulima zao la tumbaku kwa majaribio, ikiwa ni zao la kibiashara ambapo itakuwa ni miongoni mwa mazao ya kuwakomboa wananchi katika umaskini wa kipato.

“Nataka wananchi wa Tarime waanze kufanya majaribio ya kilimo cha zao la tumbaku, kushamiri kwa kilimo hiki itasaidia maradufu wananchi wetu kujikomboa na lindi la umaskini wa kipato,” alisema.

Hata hivyo, alisema wakati umefika kwa jamii nzima ya wilaya hiyo ya Tarime ikiwemo ya Rorya kushiriki katika shughuli za kimaendeleo ikiwemo kulima mazao mengi ya chakula na yale ya kibiashara.

Akisisitiza kuhusu suala hilo, mkuu huyo wa wilaya alisema sababu kubwa ya kuhimiza kilimo hicho cha tumbaku na kupanda mazao yanayostahimili zaidi ukame ni kutokuwepo kwa mvua nyingi za msimu.

Katika hatua nyingine, Kolimba aliwataka madiwani na watendaji wa Wilaya ya Tarime kuendelea na kasi yao ya uhamasishaji wa shughuli za maendeleo kwa wananchi wanaowaongoza ili kuleta mabadiliko makubwa ya kimaendeleo ya kisekta.

Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya hiyo ya Tarime, Trasias Kagenzi, aliwahimiza madiwani na watendaji wa wilaya hiyo kuhakikisha wanashirikiana kwa pamoja na wananchi wao katika kusimamia miradi ya maendeleo wilayani humo.

Mwanakijiji:

Hili suala linaniumiza kichwa sana asa ukichukulia maendeleo ya kisayansi na teknolojia yaliyofikiwa dunia.

Ningependa kuuliza where is Green Revolution tunayosikia midomoni mwa wanasiasa 😕

Zakumi said:

Mwanakijiji:

Hili suala linaniumiza kichwa sana asa ukichukulia maendeleo ya kisayansi na teknolojia yaliyofikiwa dunia.

Ningependa kuuliza where is Green Revolution tunayosikia midomoni mwa wanasiasa 😕

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Zakumi.. mimi kinachoniumiza ni kuwa:

a. Tanzania imezungukwa na maziwa makubwa matatu ambayo yote yanafaa kwa kilimo cha kumwagilia.

b. Tanzania ina ardhi yenye rutuba (sehemu kubwa ya nchi siyo Jangwa)

c. Tanzania ina halihewa (climate) tofauti na hivyo kuwezesha kupandwa mazao ya kila aina Kuanzia mazao yanayokua maeneo ya joto (mihogo nk), mazao yanayostahimili ukame (mtama, uwele), na mazao ya maeneo ya baridi (viazi, matunda n,k). Kwanini tunakabiliwa na njaa?

d. Tanzania bado inatumia jembe la mkono na inaweza kujilisha kwa kutumia mvua kwa watu milioni 40 fikiria tukiamua kuingia katika kilimo cha mashine na umwagiliaji!

Mzee Mwanakijiji said:

Zakumi.. mimi kinachoniumiza ni kuwa:

a. Tanzania imezungukwa na maziwa makubwa matatu ambayo yote yanafaa kwa kilimo cha kumwagilia.

b. Tanzania ina ardhi yenye rutuba (sehemu kubwa ya nchi siyo Jangwa)

c. Tanzania ina halihewa (climate) tofauti na hivyo kuwezesha kupandwa mazao ya kila aina Kuanzia mazao yanayokua maeneo ya joto (mihogo nk), mazao yanayostahimili ukame (mtama, uwele), na mazao ya maeneo ya baridi (viazi, matunda n,k). Kwanini tunakabiliwa na njaa?

d. Tanzania bado inatumia jembe la mkono na inaweza kujilisha kwa kutumia mvua kwa watu milioni 40 fikiria tukiamua kuingia katika kilimo cha mashine na umwagiliaji!

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Mwanakijiji:

Seriousness yetu katika masuala ya kilimo inaonekana hapa JF. Huu mjadala ungekuwa unajadili masuala ya ATCL, Ufisadi, Madini, n.k basi wachangiaji wangekuwa wengi sana.

Tukirudi kwenye points zako. Suala kubwa la sisi kutokuwa na sera nzuri za kilimo kwa upande mmoja ni la kisiasa.

Kwa maoni yangu binafsi. Siasa ya Tanzania ni jinsi ya kuzungumza Grand dreams, grand schemes lakini sio utekelezaji wake. Na unapofanyika utekelezaji basi kunakuwa na haraka haraka na pupa nyingi ambazo zinakwamisha maendeleo ya shughuli zenyewe.

Katika mijadala fulani ya uchambuzi kama hule wa Vita dhidi ya uhujumu, tumeweka historical events ambazo nyingi zinajirudia kama vile ukame, mafuriko, njaa na neema.

Kama njaa inajirudia. Sera za kilimo ni lazima zilenge ukulima bora lakini vilevile ni lazima zi-address kalenda ya matukio yanayojirudia.

Moja ya mambo ambayo ningependa kuangaliwa ufafanuzi wa ndoto ya Yusufu, kuwa kutakuwa na miaka saba ya neema na miaka saba ya ukame. Kwa kutumia kalenda, data na teknologia ya kisasa tunaweza ku-address haya matatizo.

Hili suala la kuishi kwa kutegemea mapato ya msimu uliopita una compromise maendeleo yetu.

Hakuna sababu ya kutoa elimu ya bure kwa wanafunzi wakati watu wenyewe wana njaa. Sijaona mtu yoyote mwenye njaa anayeweza kupandisha shule.

Na vilevile katika kipindi hiki ambacho nchi za jirani zina matatizo, wakulima wa Tanzania walitakiwa kuwa wanauza chakula nje ya nchi na kupata faida kubwa ambayo ingeweza kuwaendeleza kiuchumi. Kama vile wa-Kanani walivyokwenda Misri kununua chakula wakati wa njaa.

Arusha Times

This first week of February, may see average prices of maize shooting up to Tsh. 60,000 per bag or more. This will be the highest grain price in decades.

Farmers in grain producing areas of Manyara, where most maize come from sell a bag of 100 kilograms at Tsh. 35,000 which used to be the value of such maize bag in Arusha town. The 35,000 shilings per bag is now cited as on-farm price instead of market price.

The market prices on the other hand are ticking towards Tsh. 60,000 and that, as far as observers here are concerned, should be the “good news” part of the story to producers.

The bad news is that, maize is scarce at the moment and could totally disappear before mid-February in case it doesn’t rain enough to wet the land.

“If rains don’t fall within the first two weeks of February then it will be a bad story to the whole region if not the entire country,” warns a farmer here.

Drought is hitting the northern zone harder than before, a few drizzles experienced last week according to local peasants, only helped to cool down the temperatures but were no good as far as crop production is concerned.

Up to December last year prices of maize in Arusha were between Tsh. 20,000 and Tsh. 23,000 per bag of 100 kilograms. The price has doubled with increased demand but badly supplemented with diminishing grain reserves.

Yusuf Ismail a local trader in Arusha said only a few bags of maize are delivered in Arusha and the amount of available grain lessen with each passing day. “We have come to learn that if there is one thing that farmers fear more is hunger, most are refusing to sell what they have in store until they are assured of future harvest,” he explained.

Michael Delay, a farmer from Galapo Babati, said most farmers rushed to sell their grains in December to raise money for their children’s school fees as well as for the preparation of their land for new cultivation, by mid-January most had drained their reserves away,” Delay maintained.

Maize is what makes the meal on local dining tables here, being a major component of the local staple dishes of Ugali (flour based maize meal) Uji (porridge) Makande or Githeri (maize mixed with beans). Now the grain may soon become rare and as expensive as a gem with their prices taking on to new heights.

A visit to local outlets indicates that a bag of maize in Arusha now retails at between Tsh. 42,000 and Tsh. 45,000 and counting. Traders are accusing farmers’ refusal to sell produce but farmers on the other hand, are lamenting drought.

Other sources suspect that the little maize grain reserves could also be vacuuming to Southern Sudan via Kenya, where a bag of maize retails at Kenyan shillings 7000 which is more than Tsh. 120,000 an amount which no farmer can refuse despite looming famine.

Kenyan and Tanzanian traders were recently reported to be buying large consignments of maize from the farmers, taking the consignment via Panya-routes to Kenya where they get transported to Sudan where maize is the new ‘gold.’

Weather reports indicate that cooler ocean temperatures over the Indian Ocean may lead to prolonged dry spells in most parts of the East Africa.

Meanwhile, The Citizen reports that Tanzania has 121,769 tonnes of a grain stock which are projected to last for six months when the next harvest season starts. The Government is required to have a stock of 150,000 tonne of cereals annually.

This is causing concerns taking into consideration reports of food shortages in various parts of the country.

The minister for State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs), Mr Philip Marmo, told journalists recently that 20 districts in Dodoma, Shinyanga, Kilimanjaro, Coast, Morogoro, Arusha, Mwanza, Singida, Mara, Tabora, Lindi, Mtwara and Manyara regions needed 7,782 tonnes of food relief.

Tanzania has banned cereals exports amid fears of a food shortage.

The Eastern Africa Grain Council has reported that Zambia, Malawi and Kenya are short of food. They expect food supplies from Tanzania to cushion the deficit while Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya will rely on Uganda.

Kenya's food production fell last year following post-election violence. Farmers fled during the crisis. Together with an unavailability of inputs, crop output fell significantly.

The country produced about 2.43 million tonnes against the national consumption of 3.15 million tonnes last production season. Normally, Kenya imports 250,000 tonnes (2.7 million 90-kilo bags) from Uganda and Tanzania during one production year, but the figure is projected to be lower this year due to the demand for maize in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa is high.

The Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network reported that Kenya had imported 110,000 tonnes of maize (1.2 million 90-kilo bags) from Uganda and Tanzania since July 2008. Last year, it imported 81,730 tonnes of maize, 4,045 of beans and 12,073 tonnes of rice compared with 121,153 tonnes of maize, 8,401 tonnes of beans and 14,110 tonnes of rice in 2007. It imported 60,430 tonnes of maize, 122,152 tonnes of beans from Uganda, last year.

It imported 98,029 tonnes of maize and 65,134 tonnes of beans the previous year. It is projected that not more than 50,000 tonnes of maize will be imported between January and June 2009.

As a short-term measure, the Government has approved the importation of 900,000 tonnes (10 million 90-kilo bags) of grain duty free. Both the Government and the private sector would do this. It will import seven million bags for its strategic grain reserves while millers and traders will import three million bags.

The country has banned grain and flour exports. Two months ago, due to the rising price of maize flour, the Government announced that it would make maize flour available at a subsidised price.

Meanwhile, a tonne of maize was sold for $311 last Friday in Dar es Salaam. Average prices were $307 in Dar es Salaam, $309 in Nairobi, $368 in Kigali, $245 in Kampala and $490 in Lilongwe last week.

Mzee Mwanakijiji said:

Zakumi.. mimi kinachoniumiza ni kuwa:

a. Tanzania imezungukwa na maziwa makubwa matatu ambayo yote yanafaa kwa kilimo cha kumwagilia.

b. Tanzania ina ardhi yenye rutuba (sehemu kubwa ya nchi siyo Jangwa)

c. Tanzania ina halihewa (climate) tofauti na hivyo kuwezesha kupandwa mazao ya kila aina Kuanzia mazao yanayokua maeneo ya joto (mihogo nk), mazao yanayostahimili ukame (mtama, uwele), na mazao ya maeneo ya baridi (viazi, matunda n,k). Kwanini tunakabiliwa na njaa?

d. Tanzania bado inatumia jembe la mkono na inaweza kujilisha kwa kutumia mvua kwa watu milioni 40 fikiria tukiamua kuingia katika kilimo cha mashine na umwagiliaji!

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You know why.....kwa sababu Miafrika Ndivyo Tulivyo!

Mikoa 11 yakumbwa na njaa


na Lucy Ngowi (Tanzania Daima)




MIKOA 11 nchini imekumbwa na baa la njaa na kuifanya serikali kutathmini kwa kina jinsi ya kuinusuru mikoa hiyo, mingi ikiwa ya Kanda ya Kaskazini.

Kaimu Mkurugenzi wa Usalama wa Chakula kutoka Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika, John Mngodo, alisema hayo jana alipokuwa akizungumza na Tanzania Daima kuhusu hali ya chakula nchini.

Aliitaja mikoa hiyo kuwa ni Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Pwani, Morogoro, Mwanza, Mara, Lindi, Mtwara, Manyara na Shinyanga. Hivi sasa, serikali inafanya tathmini ya kina katika mikoa hiyo kujua ukubwa wa tatizo na kuangalia hatua itakazochukua ili kuwanusuru wakazi wake wanaotabika kwa njaa.

Mngodo alisema kutokana na hali hiyo, serikali imechukua hatua mbali mbali kukabiliana nayo, ikiwamo ya kutenga fedha zaidi ya sh bilioni 1.7 kwa ajili ya kununua tani 1,091 za mbegu za mazao ya chakula, na kuzipatia kaya za wakulima zisizo na uwezo au wale waliolima lakini mazao yao yalikauka.

"Hatua nyingine ni kwamba serikali imetenga tani 7,128 za chakula katika wakala wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Chakula (NFRA), ambako tani 359 zitasambazwa bure kwa walengwa 12,027 wasio na uwezo wa kununua chakula. Kiasi kilichobaki kitauzwa kwa bei nafuu kwa walengwa waliobaki," alisema Mkurugenzi huyo.

Tathmini ya hali ya chakula nchini iliyofanywa na wizara hiyo kwa vipindi mbalimbali, imeonyesha kuwapo kwa baadhi ya wilaya zenye maeneo yenye upungufu wa chakula.

"Kwa mfano, tathmini ya Disemba 2008 ilibaini kuwapo kwa maeneo tete katika baadhi ya wilaya ambako athari za uhaba wa chakula huenda zikajitokeza.

"Maeneo hayo yapo katika wilaya za Lushoto, Same, Arusha, Longido, Morogoro Vijijini, Mkinga, Rombo, Korogwe, Mvomero, Monduli, Kilindi, Bunda, Meatu, Bariadi, Mbulu, Simanjiro, Babati, Mafia, Kiteto, Njombe na Hanang," alisema.

Wilaya 11 kati ya hizo zilijitokeza wakati wa tathmini ya awali na kufanyiwa tathmini ya kina Agosti mwaka jana, wakati wilaya 10 zilizobaki zimejitokeza kwa sasa. Kwa mujibu wa mkurugenzi huyo, kiasi hicho cha chakula kimeanza kugawiwa katika wilaya za Bunda, Ukerewe, Manyoni na Iramba.

Pia alisema wilaya za Same, Mwanga, Rombo, Bariadi, Kishapu, Shinyanga Vijijini na Monduli zimewasilisha mahitaji ya chakula kwa Idara ya Maafa, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, na hatua ya kusambaza chakula zinachukuliwa.

Kwa upande mwingine bei za vyakula zimeendelea kuwa juu kwa asilimia 25 ikilinganishwa na kipindi kama hiki mwaka jana. Pamoja na hali hiyo, hatua ya serikali ya kusitisha uuzaji wa mazao ya chakula nje ya nchi hususan nafaka, imesaidia kudhibiti kupanda kwa bei za vyakula.

Alisema kuwa katika baadhi ya mikoa hususan maeneo ya mipakani, bei za mazao ya nafaka kama mahindi ziko juu, kutokana na kuwapo kwa upungufu wa chakula katika nchi jirani. Kwa mujibu wa mkurugenzi huyo, hadi Januari 29, akiba ya chakula ilikuwa tani 128,758.898 za nafaka.

Taarifa za hivi karibuni zinaonesha kuwa hali ya chakula katika nchi za jirani za Kenya, Zambia, Malawi na Msumbiji si nzuri, kutokana na sababu mbalimbali ikiwamo hali mbaya ya mvua.

Vita inayoendelea mashariki mwa DR Congo imeathiri upatikanaji wa chakula nchini humo na kuongeza mahitaji ya chakula kutoka nje ya nchi hiyo, ikiwamo Tanzania.

Not again.....

Watu 600 hatarini kwa njaa Moshi Vijijini

2009-02-23 10:00:07
Na Salome Kitomary, Moshi


Zaidi ya wakazi 600 wa vijiji saba vya Tarafa ya Hai Mashariki Wilaya ya Moshi Vijijini mkoani Kilimanjaro, wanahitaji chakula cha msaada kutoka serikalini baada ya mazao yao kuharibiwa vibaya na mvua ya mawe na kimbunga.

Wakazi hao ni wa vijiji vya Kimanganuni, Okaseni na Kitandu vya Kata ya Uru Kusini, Ongoma, Mrawi na Msuni vya Uru Kaskazini na kijiji cha Shibwe Chini cha Kata ya Uru Kishibwe.

Wakizungumza jana na Nipashe baadhi yao, Steven Kimaro (76), Frank Tesha (60), Anna Mushi (80) na Joseph Lyamuya (72) walisema wako hatarini kufa kwa njaa kutokana na mazao yao ikiwamo migomba kuharibiwa na mvua hiyo.

Walisema kawaida wanajishughulisha na kilimo cha ndizi, kahawa na mahindi lakini mvua hizo zimeharibu migomba kuvunjika na mingine kuanguka na baadhi ya nyumba zao kuezuliwa mapaa.

Walisema mvua hizo zilizonyesha kwa saa nne mfululizo Februari 7mwaka huu zimeleta maafa makubwa kwa kuharibu miundombinu na kusababisha kukosa umeme hadi sasa.

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Moshi, Alhaji Musa Samizi alitembelea maeneo hayo yaliyokumbwa na maafa na kujionea hali halisi.

Samizi alisema pamoja na maafa hayo, mvua hizo zimesababisha uharibifu wa mazingira kwa kuangusha miti na kuharibu mazao.

Alisema wanafanya tathimini halisi ya maafa hayo ili kubaini idadi ya wananchi wanaohitaji chakula cha msaada ili wajadiliwe na Kamati ya Maafa ya Wilaya kisha ngazi ya mkoa na serikali kuu kwa ajili ya kupatiwa chakula hicho.

Hadi sasa hakuna msaada wowote uliotolewa na serikali au watu binafsi kwa wananchi waliokubwa na maafa hayo huku serikali ikidai kuwa hakuna fungu la kuwasaidia waathirika hao.

Over 240,000 people face hunger

2009-03-12 10:55:37
By Angel Navuri


More than 240,000 people in Tanzania are in urgent need of food aid, while 12,000 others will have to get the food at a subsidised price as the growing food crisis takes its toll in some regions.

Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives minister Steven Wassira said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that this was the latest information he had received from the team of experts the government dispatched to evaluate the extent of food crisis in 13 regions.

The minister briefed reporters on the food situation at a ceremony at which a memorandum of understanding was signed on development assistance to Tanzania`s agricultural sector between China Development Bank (CDB) and his ministry.

He said the food aid the government would dispatch to the food-short regions would be given for free to those who cannot afford even the token price, while others would have to buy it at a subsidised price.

``Preliminary reports brought to me by the team of experts show that over 240,000 people deserve food aid because they cannot pay for it, while 12,000 others can buy it at a token price,`` he elaborated.

The minister said, as a precaution, the government was making sure that food was not taken to neighbouring countries.

He noted that Kenya and Zimbabwe were already facing food shortages and expressed fears that the situation in Tanzania could worsen ``if people continue taking food across our borders despite the standing ban``.

``The government has taken enough measures to make sure that people do not export or otherwise take foodstuffs to neighbouring countries because it will worsen the crisis in the country,`` he said.

``The team of experts is helping in assessing the country`s actual food needs and the extent to which food aid will be required. It has already left for the food-short regions for the purpose,`` explained Wassira.

He named the regions as including Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera (Bukoba), Kigoma, Kilimanjaro (Same), Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Shinyanga and Tanga.

He would not give details on the degree of the problem in each region.

The government last week allayed public fears over reports of looming famine in the 13 regions.

Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives deputy minister David Mathayo told this paper that the team of experts earlier sent to 11 regions most hit by food shortages reported that the situation was not as severe as earlier thought and that there was no cause for alarm.

CDB chairman Zheng Qingh, who represented his bank at yesterday`s ceremony, said the package would help Tanzania improve its agriculture.

He said the package would enable farmers to improve farming methods and produce enough food for both domestic use and sale.

SOURCE: Guardian

Swali:

Food or Vitambulisho? au vyote viwili kwa wakati mmoja ukiwapa watu vitambulisho unawapa chakula wakati huo huo au ili uwape watu wanaostahili chakula unahitaji vitambulisho vya smart card..! I don't know..