G'day Diane,
Timely article, comrad; this is going to be very big, I'm afraid. I do
note though that the otherwise worthy article appended fails to remind
us that in both Malawi and Zimbabwe (and probably others - I just don't
know about those) the IMF is at the root of it. And directly.
There's nought new in droughts. Southern Africa has long profound
droughts once every two decades or so these days. What's new now is
that in the early nineties, the IMF restructuring suits moved in and
demanded the government empty the reserve granaries. Apparently their
very existence was upsetting the price mechanism. Millions of tonnes of
food (roughly the amount now needed to avoid a famine by late October)
duly got disappeared.
And now they have their price mechanism.
A fat lot nature cares ...
Cheers,
Rob.
MALAWI
Unfolding Crisis:
With more than 70 percent of the
population facing food shortages,
the president of Malawi made his
country's food crisis a State of
Disaster on February 27.
Malawi's current food shortages
stem from the worst floods on record
in 2001, last season's low maize
production, the depletion of the
strategic grain reserve and high
maize prices on all local markets.
The situation has been worsened by
a dry spell, a lack of seeds &
fertilisers and, most significantly,
families consuming vast amounts of
their harvest when it is still green.
Many now risk running out of their
own food soon.
Malawi's lean season usually falls in
October. This year, it is expected to
start in June.
