Tanzania

Tanzania Faces Food Shortage as Rain Fails
Reuters, June 16, 2000

Tanzania said on Friday that it was facing a serious food shortage after its seasonal rains failed. Agriculture Minister William Kusila told Reuters Tanzania had a maize shortfall of around 680,000 tonnes after drought hit the 1999/2000 harvest. “According to our preliminary survey, what is evident is that there is a serious food shortage especially along the central corridor,” Kusila said. “The amount is about 680,000 tonnes. About 10 regions out of 20 in the mainland are affected.” Kusila attributed the shortage to the total failure of the seasonal October-December short rains and only sporadic rainfall during the more important March-May long rainy season.