DROUGHT SCENES -- PARCHED LANDSCAPE, STARVED CATTLE, POOR CROPS.




Initials DHC/VS/BHH/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: RHODESIA IS AFFLICTED BY THE WORST DROUGHT IN SEVERAL YEARS. THE RHODESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A PROGRAMME OF LOANS WHICH WILL SAVE MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S FARMERS FROM FINANCIAL RUIN. THE MTOKO AREA, IN RHODESIA'S NORTH-WESTERN CORNER IS ONE OF THE WORST-HIT AREAS.

THE RHODESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED "OUTRIGHT AND UNENCUMBERED GRANTS", AND HAS OUTLINED A SCHEME OF REGISTRATION.

IN THE MTOKO AREA SEASONAL RAINFALL HAS AVERAGED ONLY EIGHT INCHES, UP TO 20 INCHES BELOW THE USUAL AVERAGE. DAMS WHICH ARE NORMALLY FULL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE NOW HOLDING ONLY ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF NORMAL CAPACITY, AND MANY SMALLER DAMS HAVE NOT SURVIVED AT ALL.

THERE ARE ABOUT 100 EUROPEAN FARMERS IN THE AREA, AND MOST OF THEM FACE SEVERE FINANCIAL LOSS. TOBACCO, ALREADY BRINGING A MINIMAL RETURN, HAS SUFFERED BADLY. MAIZE ON MOST FARMS HAS BEEN REDUCED TO CATTLE FODDER.

BOTH EUROPEAN AND AFRICAN FARMERS HAVE BEEN RELYING ON MORE WATER, BUT EVEN THIS SUPPLY IS IN DANGER OF DRYING UP.

IT IS THOUGHT THAT VIRTUALLY ALL THE FARMERS IN THE MTOKO AREA WILL APPLY TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR SOME FORM OF DROUGHT RELIEF.