Continued dryness and above average temperatures adversely impact second season production prospects

Currently, the majority of rural households are able to meet their basic food needs through own crops, market purchases, and expansion of the typical livelihood strategies. Minimal acute food insecurity outcomes (IPC Phase 1) are expected to continue until September in most of the country. 

Markets continue to be adequately supplied with maize, rice, groundnuts, cassava, and beans. Maize grain prices are expected to continue decreasing or remaining stable since they typically reach their lowest level in June, before they start rising between July and August. In Chókwe district, maize grain prices continue to be consistently above average, however there was a 20 percent drop between April and May. 

A combination of rainfall deficits and abnormally higher temperatures during May has adversely impacted prospects for a relatively good second season production. Between March and early June, areas that typically practice second season cropping received less than half of the average rainfall that they typically get for that period. Most years, households in areas that have second season cropping depend on this production to offset any deficits that they experienced during the main season, but food supply levels from the second production will be limited this year.