Network Paper 2: Responding to the 1991/92 Drought in Zambia

As with the other countries in the Southern African region, Zambia experienced exceptionally low rainfall during the 1991-92 rains. The rains had started well in many areas of the country during October but halted in January - a key month for the cultivation of maize, the country's staple cereal. The southern half of the country was most affected including the traditional maize surplus areas of southern and eastern provinces. As a result, the impact of the drought on domestic cereal production was particularly severe, production for the subsequent marketing year was only 40% of the average for the previous three years. Total cereal import requirements (commercial and food aid) for the 1992-93 marketing year were approximately 1 million tonnes.

The study reviewes the performance of the Programme to Prevent Malnutrition and draw lessons learned from the analysis.