The southern African rainfall season has begun at an erratic pace but weather experts have forecast that a largely near normal pattern is emerging across the sub-region for the remaining period of the season. Rainfall deficits experienced so far in Tanzania, southern DRC, southeastern coast (Swaziland and southeastern South Africa), northwestern Namibia and Seychelles, are therefore predicted to improve.

Some parts of the region namely the southwestern half of Zimbabwe and northern DRC, have however already recorded a surplus during October and November.

The positive rainfall outlook for the second half of the season offers a great sigh of relief to the SADC region where drought suffered last season caused severe food deficits in Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

At the start of the season SADC governments took full advantage of these forecasts by working out seed and other inputs programmes. Quality seed distribution is one area where SADC agro experts had laid down a plan to reap maximum benefits from the anticipated rainfall.

At a meeting of SADC seed experts held in Lusaka, Zambia in September, poor seed was identified as one major problem contributing to falling crop yields in the region. Experts were challenged to strive to ensure they help in finding solutions to decreased food production in the SADC region.

Zambian Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mundia Sikatana told delegates to a two-week SADC Seed Technology Course that securing good seed in advance would be critical in the food security recovery process.

"In view of the importance of agriculture, it is clear that seed experts in the SADC region have a critical role to play in their agricultural development. We can never have agricultural production without seed," Sikatana said.

Experts resolved that SADC will exchange knowledge and share new skills in seed management and supply systems because the weather in the region was almost uniform, according to recent forecasts.

Participants also agreed to make good use of the value of data provided by the SADC Seed Security Network. "I hope that through courses like this one and further interaction by course participants, seed legislation will be harmonized in the long run," said Sikatana.

Harmonisation of legislation on seed in the various SADC states was one of the key preparatory resolutions that was reached at the meeting.

"SADC member states realise the critical role seed legislation plays in our concerted efforts to respond to the new opportunity of recovery presented by this year's good rain forecast," experts said in a common position paper issued at the end of the meeting.

Course director, Wilfred Silwimba said the seed industry is key to agricultural development in the SADC region and experts have accordingly responded by placing the issue at the centre of the recovery efforts this farming season.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also places the seed factor at the centre of its recovery support programmes in the region.

WFP deputy executive director, Sheila Sisulu who was in Lusaka on a drought recovery assessment mission said that the UN food aid agency was upbeat about the good rainfall forecast in the SADC region and would support the input distribution efforts, especially seed.

Sisulu said the WFP has introduced a programme called "Seed Pack" along with technical support for small-scale farmers in the SADC region. "We want to add to national governments' preparations for this farming season which looks promising because of the good rains expected," she said.

The Seed Pack programme, she explained is a "fast track" relief programme that combines food aid with seed. "There has to be a recovery this year, or at least partially. The expected good rains offer a great opportunity for regional governments and for our relief operations," she said.

Weather scientists from SADC and international organisations who met for the Seventh Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) in Lusaka in September, said the region will not suffer extreme climate conditions this season, a situation that boosts chances of a quick recovery from drought. (SARDC - SADC Today)

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