Identifying policy determinants of food security response and recovery in the SADC Region: the case of the 2002 food emergency
2003
R. Mano | B. Isaacson | P. Dardel
Many southern African countries faced a serious food security crises in mid-2002. This report examines the policy and economic dimensions of food security crises, with specific reference to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries.Main findings of the report include:disaster management and contingency response plans were either non-existent or inadequate in most SADC countries, leaving governments ill-prepared to deal with the humanitarian emergencyearly warning systems focused largely on rainfall performance and cereal production, providing inadequate information to guide emergency food aid response effortsSADC countries with minimal government interference in domestic food markets are amongst the more food secure in the regionsome countries that created a domestic environment to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations (for instance Malawi), were able to attract more donor assistance than others whose policies placed obstacles to humanitarian operationswhile most SADC governments have liberalised markets for cash crops, food markets remain restricted to varying degrees.The report makes a number of recommendations including the following:SADC countries should be prepared well in advance of an emergencydisaster management mechanisms need to be fully operational and play a greater role in supporting and coordinating SADC countries in food emergency situationsSADC countries should eliminate single channel marketing and review the role of marketing boards and governmentsSADC countries should actively solicit and participate in regional and bilateral free trade agreements to enhance both national and regional food security.[adapted from author]
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