SOUTH AFRICAN REGION—The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) aims to secure 290,000 tons of corn from international sources such as Mexico and Ukraine as part of the drought response to the South African region.

WFP confirms that the move follows the devastating impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon that has severely scorched crops throughout the region.

Zimbabwe, a key producer of the staple corn crop, has seen a drastic 70% drop in its harvest. Similarly, crops in Zambia and Malawi have been significantly affected.

To tackle this crisis, the WFP aims to raise approximately US$400 million for response. South Africa, typically the continent’s largest corn exporter, has also seen a 20% reduction in its crop, thus limiting the availability of exportable grain.

“The challenge in Southern Africa is the region’s preference for white corn over the yellow variety, which is more commonly consumed globally. Moreover, many countries in the region ban the import of genetically modified grain unless it’s milled,” said Valerie Guarnieri, WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development, in an interview on August 2 in Johannesburg.

The WFP is casting a wide net to procure the necessary white corn, including from as far as Mexico, one of the few countries that produces significant quantities of this variety.

The organization plans to source around 100,000 tons from Mexico and another 100,000 tons from Tanzania, which has enjoyed a bumper crop this season. Additionally, small quantities of milled yellow maize are expected from Ukraine.

Historically, the region has received corn donations from countries like the United States during droughts. However, this marks the first instance where the WFP is engaging in commercial transactions with Mexico to secure the needed grain.

Despite these efforts, the WFP’s imports will only cover part of the region’s demand. Guarnieri indicated that the available corn from South Africa might be procured by neighboring governments.

Since April 27, South Africa has exported nearly 346,000 tons of white corn to nearby countries, with Zimbabwe receiving over half of this amount. It has also exported 179,000 tons of yellow corn, with 54% going to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean millers anticipate the need to import about 1.4 million tons of corn and are exploring sources in Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the US. Botswana is seeking imports from Brazil, and Zambia is looking to procure 650,000 tons from Tanzania.

The WFP will begin providing support during the lean season, starting as early as October this year, compared to the usual January to March timeline. The severity of this year’s drought necessitates an earlier intervention.

Heavy debt burdens and economic turmoil in some Southern African nations further constrain their response capabilities.

“They’re approaching this historic drought in a difficult fiscal space,” Guarnieri noted.

According to Reena Ghelani, Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations, the current drought, described in some areas as the worst in 40 years, has been intensified by climate change.

“This region has historically experienced droughts once every decade or longer, but we are now seeing more frequent droughts due to climate change,” said Ghelani.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.