FAO Assists Drought-Hit Sahel Region

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the drought situation in the Sahel Region in Africa could be crucial in the next two months. Sahel is a geographical zone in Africa that runs across the countries below Sahara namely Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger and Senegal. Close monitoring is thus being performed in the region.

Two approaches by FAO were seen to create impact and assist the people amidst drought that has been haunting the region for four years. These are the distribution of seeds and livestock to the poor, mainly vulnerable women. The seeds include improved varieties of millet and niebé beans that should yield a good harvest even in difficult conditions. Another support by FAO is in term of providing livestock feeding and veterinary care as well as distributions of small livestock as animals are fundamental to both short- and long-term food security in the Sahel and represent the traditional form of saving and wealth accumulation.

For more information, visit http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/154738/icode/.