FAO has launched an action plan aimed at ensuring smallholder farmers and livestock producers with seeds, fertilizers, tools and other production means and services to enable them to cope with the devastating effects of the drought provoked by El niño. According to estimates of the organization for this purpose will require at least $100 million.

Farmers should be given the opportunity to land in October this year, otherwise, if this does not happen, the region will face severe crop failure in March 2017. This situation will lead to serious food problems.

Two seasons of drought, including the worst over the last 35 years, which happened this year, hit hard by vulnerable families in rural areas as prices for corn and other basic food products increased. The result was that almost 40 million people in the region are expected to face food insecurity at the peak of the upcoming season in early 2017. It is reported that affected all countries in southern Africa.

"High unemployment and the sluggish economy means that the main way through which people can access food is to produce it on their own. Assistance in this will provide vital support in a region where livelihoods, at least 70% of the population depend on agriculture as source of livelihood", — said David Phiri, FAO subregional coordinator for southern Africa.

Describes the response plan, FAO covers 10 countries that have requested assistance - Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.