莱索托 Machache 的 Hantsi 村的 Mphatlalatsane 农业合作社今年有大量剩余的玉米投入品，因为许多当地农民认为天气太不稳定而不能冒险种植。图片来源：Eva-Lotta Jansson/IRIN
人道主义通讯社的一篇文章称，由于该地区降雨量创历史新低，南部非洲今年面临大面积农作物歉收的威胁 IRIN.
世界粮食计划署警告说：“由于许多地区降雨很少或没有降雨，而一些国家的谷物种植窗口正在迅速关闭或已经关闭，前景令人担忧。”
“该地区对这种规模的冲击准备不足，特别是因为上一个生长季节也受到干旱的影响。这意味着区域库存耗尽、食品价格高企以及粮食不安全人口数量大幅增加，”该联合国机构表示。
南部非洲正感受到去年开始的强烈厄尔尼诺现象的影响。根据饥荒预警系统网络，2016 年降雨量持续低于平均水平和高温可能会持续，而粮食危机将持续到 2017 年。
文章包括一个 分解 of the affected countries in Southern Africa, among them South Africa, the biggest victim of the drought. As the region’s main maize producer, last year output fell 30% from the bumper 2014 season and it may have to import around 6 million tonnes. Planting of the 2016 cereal crop began later than normal due to delayed rains. Small-scale farmers have been hammered by the drought, with emergencies declared in five out of nine provinces, as well as areas of two other provinces. There have been reports of farmers committing suicide.
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