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Rukwa region now experiencing food shortage
2007-09-18 09:45:58
By Joshua Joel, PST, Sumbawanga
Food shortage in Rukwa, the region grouped among the `Big Four`, has made it necessary to employ additional efforts to increase production of drought resistant crops to offset malnourishment likely to hit many families.
Rukwa Regional Commissioner Daniel ole Njoolay was quoted over the weekend reminding the residents of the need to use wisely the little grain harvested in parts of the region that received poor rains.
``There are parts of Rukwa Region that recorded good harvest and creating surplus, but other areas had poor harvest that should be complemented by intensive cultivation of drought resistant crops,`` Njoolai said when addressing a media conference.
As for places like Matai Ward in Sumbawanga Rural District that recorded good harvest of rice, groundnuts and beans, the RC urged the residents to sell part of the crop and buy grain for family consumption.
Rukwa recorded poor harvests this year, said Njoolai, some districts realizing less than 50 per cent of the estimated harvest. Sumbawanga District, for instance, was expected to produce 795,223 tonnes, but had 386,963 tones instead.
Seasonal rains that started last November were short lived ending in February this year, but had devastating effect destroying cornfields flooding some of the areas, the condition favourable for cultivation of rice harvested in large quantities.
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