Africa accounts for 28 of the 36 countries worldwide that need food aid, says the FAO in its quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. Drought reduced harvests in North Africa and in southern Africa, more than offsetting improvements in East and West Africa and pulling the continent’s grain output to a below-normal level.
“The impact of the El Niño-induced drought resulted in a significant increase in food insecurity in southern Africa,” said the report. “Persisting conflicts, notably in Nigeria and in South Sudan, continue to severely impair agricultural production and food security in affected countries.”
Argentina reaped a record-setting corn crop this year, says FAO. But Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay were hit by drought, so South America, as a whole, will see a production decline for the year. A bumper cereal crop is expected in Mexico and most Central American countries are forecast to recover from drought last year. Worldwide, the outlook is for ample harvests.