By Marsha Winsryg | Director, AACDP
The AACDP has now made five drought emergency food deliveries to the Zambezi Farm community. The number of receiving families increased from fourteen in May to forty-one in September. We have also added additional supplies for the Mama Bakhita Cheshire Home, so they can continue providing the daily meal at their school for children with disabilities.
The drought persists. We have no idea how long these food deliveries will have to continue. Meteorologists are hopeful that the rainy season will begin in November, but at this point, who knows? Meanwhile, the economy of the entire country sinks further, and as the already poor people get poorer, the price of all basic food staples rises. For example, this month the price of cooking oil is 16% higher than in September, mealie meal is up 5%, sugar is up 10%. We will have to either allocate more funds for the food deliveries, or decrease the number of families who benefit.
The farm is still producing some vegetables, limited to the fields in reach of the irrigation systems that you helped fund. The farmers have harvested some kale and spinach for their own consumption and a bit for sale. But as the heat increases, the quantity of pumpable water decreases. So the little water available must be used for finishing the already planted crops of tomatoes and kale; new crops will have to wait for the rains.
In the meantime, the goat herd has quadrupled! The ten goats purchased less than two years ago multiplied into forty-one! The free range chickens are laying eggs, and new chicks are increasing the flock. The drought is also affecting the animals. They must wander further to graze, and come into contact with other animals, some of whom are drought-weakened and disease carrying. We did lose 2 small goats and 3 chickens to disease.
We pray that the Zambezi Farm community will be able to survive the difficult months ahead before the drought crisis ebbs. We deeply appreciate your generosity, which has brought us this far. Thank you!
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