The extreme heat that has pounded southern Mozambique in recent days has resulted in the loss of almost 4,000 hectares of diverse crops in Maputo province alone.
Over the past week, the maximum temperature has increased to 40 degrees Celsius, with a dearth of rainfall, which is considered to be tied to the El Niño phenomena.
According to Mariamo José, Maputo Provincial Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, speaking to media on Thursday, the scenario for the primary 2023-2024 agricultural season is particularly problematic, since the heat wave is harming not just agriculture but also the fisheries industry.
The predicament is due to the El Niño phenomenon, which causes a dearth of rain in this region of the country. José explained that this occurrence occurs every two to seven years and lasts about nine to twelve months.
He went on to say that an increasing number of people in the southern regions need aid since their food supplies are running low.
The authorities recently announced that over 9,000 households are experiencing a food crisis in Chemba district, in the central province of Sofala, as a result of the loss of roughly 25,000 hectares of diverse crops destroyed by drought believed to be related to the El Niño phenomenon.