Darfur - Emergency Food Security Program

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001400 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS USMISSION UN ROME GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JBRAUSE, NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU SUBJECT: Darfur - Emergency Food Security Program Recommendations -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Food security in Darfur remains critically fragile due to prevailing insecurity, and prospects for a return to relative food security are bleak. Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement, internally displaced persons (IDPs) lack access to agricultural land, and non- governmental organization (NGO) access to some food- insecure areas remains restricted. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and NGO partners, however, report some success in reducing food insecurity in certain locations through a variety of aid interventions. From May 24 to June 1, a USAID Darfur Field Office (DFO) agriculture and livestock specialist traveled through South and North Darfur, evaluating FAO's seed distributions, meeting with partners, and visiting Abu Shouk, Al Salaam, Dereig, Otash, and Zam Zam IDP camps. The DFO recommends that the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) consider support for the following agriculture and livestock sector interventions: reduced direct seed distributions of sorghum and millet, seed multiplication through market mechanisms, vegetable garden and environmental projects, and training and equipping of community animal health workers (CAHW). End Summary. -------------- FAO and Partner Programs -------------- ¶2. Three million people in Darfur have restricted access to land resulting in diminished crop cultivation and an increased dependence on food assistance. FAO and NGOs are implementing agriculture and livestock programs that provide millet, sorghum, and vegetable seeds; tools; poultry; and veterinary drugs, vaccines, and training. The success of these programs has been mixed, with the cumulative impact still inadequate to meet household needs. In addition, displacement and insecurity continue to disrupt agriculture and livestock projects and aggravate food security. -------------- -- Saturation Point Reached for Seed Distributions -------------- -- 
 ¶3. Millet and sorghum direct seed distributions have likely reached a saturation point, given the large amounts of seed distributed by FAO (700 metric tons in 2006) and as evidenced by low grain prices at local markets. Demand is also low as many farmers are now living in IDP camps. If seed gaps are determined to exist, supporting local seed multiplication projects through a market mechanism would more efficiently transfer seed from producers to farmers in need. USAID/OFDA may consider supporting seed multiplication and scaling down direct seed distributions. -------------- Strengthening Garden Projects -------------- ¶4. Vegetable garden projects in the IDP camps visited have improved the diets and incomes of participants. In Zam Zam, CHF International introduced demonstration plots where IDPs learn practical gardening skills. OXFAM is currently distributing vegetable seeds to 15,000 households in Saraf Omra, Kebkabiya, and Tawila. Relief International is also distributing vegetable seeds in other parts of Saraf Omra and Kebkabiya. USAID/OFDA may consider additional support to garden projects in locations with available water supplies, such as in Zam Zam camp. -------------- Poultry Projects -------------- ¶5. Several NGOs have distributed chickens in Darfur, and KHARTOUM 00001400 002 OF 002 the poultry projects seem to have had a significant impact, increasing IDPs' incomes from egg sales and improving diets. While poultry is important within the context of camp settings, due to increased risk of avian influenza, USAID recommends that partners cease poultry distributions, and reprogram funds to other livelihood options until further notice. -------------- Goat Distribution -------------- ¶6. CHF distributed one goat per household to 1,000 households in Otash camp and to 500 households in Dereig camp with the provision that the first offspring would be given to another household. Further distributions of goats and other livestock, however, are discouraged in Darfur, as these assets increase the vulnerability of beneficiaries to attacks. -------------- -------------- CAHW Training, Veterinary Drugs, Kits, and Vaccines -------------- -------------- ¶7. FAO and NGOs, in collaboration with the Sudanese government veterinary department, have trained 255 CAHWs in Darfur, to improve health delivery service to animals. The CAHWs are paid approximately USD 100 per month for participating in the program and attending to sick animals. Due to the expense, the program is not sustainable. USAID/OFDA may consider expanding support for veterinary training and equipment provision, especially in the northern areas of El Fasher where pastoralism is the primary means of livelihood. NGO partners would need to devise a sustainable cost-recovery mechanism to cover recurring expenses allowing a measure of sustainability. -------------- Fodder Provision and Pasture Seed Supply -------------- ¶8. Some NGOs collect fodder for distribution to vulnerable households during the months prior to the rainy season. This intervention reduces animal losses due to starvation but is not sustainable if communities do not initiate the process. FAO and partners collected and distributed 10 metric tons of pasture seed to pastoral and agro-pastoral communities for broadcasting before the rainy season but are not certain where the seed will be broadcasted. One danger is if seed is planted by newcomers on land previously owned or worked by populations that fled the violence in Darfur and now live away from their lands. The planting of pasture seed could also fix nomadic populations on land belonging to farmers living as IDPs in other areas. -------------- Environmental Concerns -------------- ¶9. The concentration of IDPs in camps has increased consumption of fuel wood and water resources. To address dwindling fuel wood resources, and as a protection measure, NGOs have trained women to make fuel-efficient stoves that require less wood than conventional cooking devices and decrease the frequency of fuel-gathering trips. Despite this, utilization of woody biomass remains high, yet planting trees to replace depleted biomass is inadequate. Water resources remain in great demand throughout the areas visited, particularly in Abu Shouk camp where IDPs spend half a day waiting to collect water. The upsurge in brick-making at Abu Shouk and other IDP camps in Darfur will further increase the demand for water. USAID/OFDA may consider support for environmental projects, such as planting of fast-growing trees for fodder and firewood, and training to address environmental degradation and depletion of wood and water resources. HUME