12 August 2012: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has released its food security update for July 2012, which underscores rising food prices and the fact that a growing proportion of the population in the region is becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Noting the global rise in food prices due, in part, to poor harvests of maize and wheat in the US, the update encourages member States to act early to ensure sufficient supply. It notes that erratic rainfall was experieced over the 2011/2012 season, which has had a negative effect on crop production. The update also stresses that there is an increasing proportion of the population that is becoming vulnerable, with notable populations being located in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. It outlines steps to bolster vulnerable populations including through the provision of humanitarian assistance, an increase in social protection and the development of agricultural input subsidy programmes.

On cereal production in SADC countries, the update notes a decrease of 7% in the region, and underscores that there has been a significant increase in the regional cereal defecit, including in Angola, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. On maize harvests and production, the report notes that the maize sector has also experienced a decrease in maize yeilds, while the first maize defecit has been experienced sine 2006. It also emphasizes that overall defecits have also been experenced for other types of cereal production, including sorghum, rice and wheat. [Publication: SADC Food Security Update July 2012]