Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1400
2006-06-13 12:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

Darfur - Emergency Food Security Program

Tags:  EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU 
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VZCZCXRO6989
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1400/01 1641209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131209Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3199
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
-------

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