Farms fail to produce crops in Southern Africa

The United Nation has warned that millions of people in Southern African countries face food shortages.

The findings, released by the World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday, follow crop assessment missions to the six countries worst hit by last year's crisis.

The UN says the region will require substantial food aid, despite producing a million tonnes more food than they did during last year's drought.

The report says that about 2.7 million tonnes of food aid will be needed to feed Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Mugabe's policy

WFP blames much of the shortfall on President Mugabe's policy of seizing white-owned farms.

The country remains in a deep crisis, with over five million people needing assistance.

According to WFP, Zambia and Malawi will produce almost all the food they need.

"The region has produced enough food to meet more than two-thirds of its food requirements".