Alert Note: El Niño drought relief in Mozambique

Vervarende Energi (VE) has submitted an alert due to the drought in Mozambique.

The central and southern regions of Mozambique have been hit by El Niño since Oct. 2023. According to the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum, the phenomenon is characterized by below-normal rainfall during the period from Oct. to Dec. This is confirmed by the National Meteorological Institute (INAM). INAM confirmed that the South of Mozambique is already registering below-average rainfall and this will prevail until April 2024. Furthermore, according to the World Meteorological Org., the phenomenon will continue until April 2024, which means that next year will be much warmer than 2023. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MITADER) stated that the dry conditions and an increase in temperatures in the agricultural areas are expected to impact around 70% of the agricultural activities. As observed in some districts in Maputo and Gaza the irregular rainfall is limiting agricultural practices. Though some farmers have cropped, there strong indication (confirmed by MITADER) that they will not yield this season. Farmers in Inhambane expected that they during the current farming season would recover their subsistence and livelihoods that had been destroyed by cyclone Freddy in 2022. However, El Niño will keep or push people further into a vulnerable and food insecurity situation. As of now in Maputo and Inhambane most people do not eat three meals per day.

El Niño is also affecting people’s income as agricultural is their main source of income. Moreover, the increase in food prices decrease thier purchasing power and market access, just as wages for agricultural labour in the affated areas are likely to be lower than normal since middle and wealthy families will have lower-than-normal cash following below-normal crop sales from the 2023 harvest.