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FAO warns of potential food security crisis as security situation worsens in CAR
02.01.2014 08:02 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Despite security challenges in half of the prefectures, farmers in the Central African Republic are counting on the next agriculture season to restore their food production capacity to avoid risks of famine and malnutrition, UN Radio says referring to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report.
FAO says Initial assessments conducted over the last week in the Central African Republic indicate a deteriorating situation in terms of low food stocks, widespread disruption to village food markets and a lack of purchasing power overall among other issues.
FAO is already working to provide farmers with seeds and tools for the next campaign, but it says more funds are needed for the food security component of the 100-day response plan.
The success of the next planting season crucially hinges on the return of farming families to the fields. Families who are unable to plant in March will have to wait one whole year before they can hope to harvest again.
FAO reports that failure to help these families will have dramatic consequences on the food security for a quarter of the Central African population.
Acting FAO Representative in the Central African Republic, Alexis Bonte, said «The combination of food shortages and poor sanitary conditions in the camps and deep in the bush, as well as extreme poverty, risk triggering serious malnutrition.»
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