The devastating phenomenon could further bring the spotlight on
While the landlocked southern African country has invested heavily in farm mechanization and irrigation, there are concerns that the looming El Niño could test if these interventions will help sustain food production at a time when aid agencies say more people will require assistance into the coming year.
During the 2022/23 season,
However, fresh climate uncertainty concerns have brought back worries about the country's ability to feed itself, where thousands of smallholder farmers - the primary growers of the staple maize - rely on rain for their agriculture activities.
According to the
In a July update, FAO's
"El Niño is likely to result in a mixed start to the 2023/24 rainy season in
Climate ministry officials say El Niño has previously affected agricultural production, noting that more remains to be done to counter its devastating effects.
"The combination of drought and water scarcity results in decreased agricultural productivity, leading to reduced food production, and this subsequently impacts food security and increases food prices," said
He noted that the country could still have more to worry about in the aftermath of El Niño.
"El Niño conditions create conducive conditions for the outbreak of crop diseases and pests. When the crops are weakened, they become more susceptible to infestations and diseases, further affecting agricultural yields," Zhakata told IPS.
While
According to Zhakata, countermeasures such as escalated investment in the sector could cushion the country against future climate shocks.
"Investment in irrigation infrastructure, such as dams, weirs, boreholes and water conveyancing systems to where the water will be required, to provide alternative water sources during drought periods, enhance farmers' access to irrigation systems, and promote efficient water management practices," Zhakata said.
This comes as the
"Nutritional vulnerability is highest at the peak of the lean season (January - March) when food stocks from the previous growing season run low and prices in the market increase," said
"Recognising the challenges experienced by communities in some poor performing areas, it is expected that a large number of people will rely on food assistance at the beginning of next year," Gallar said.
According to FAO, El Niño last hit
It is yet to be seen what preparations the country's grain reserves will be enough in the event of another El Niño-induced drought.
According to agencies, the 2016 El Niño "severely reduced seasonal rains and higher-than-normal temperatures linked to El Niño caused an anticipated 12 percent drop in aggregate cereal production."
Amid such anticipated reduced food production,
According to climate ministry officials,
"The 27th Conference of Parties to the
"So far, no Parties have benefitted from this facility; it is a prerequisite to have clearly defined operational modalities and initial resources being deposited into the fund before it can be accessed. It is expected that the modalities will be agreed in December to pave the way for the operationalization of the Fund," he added.
For now, as potentially devastating El Niño drought approaches, smallholders could find themselves none the wiser as they count their losses in the absence of measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.
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