Introduction
  SADC Food Agriculture and Natural Resources (SADC-FANR)  
  The SADC region is periodically confronted with disruptions in food 
  security caused by climatic, political, social and economic problems. 
  SADC Food Security Programme is currently based in Harare.  
           Objectives of the programme 
           The main objective of the SADC Regional Early 
           Warning System is to provide member states 
           and the international community with advance 
           information on food security prospects in the 
           region through assessments of expected food 
           production, food supplies and requirements. 
   Factors affecting crop production 
   There are many factors that influence how well plants grow and 
   develop.   
   These factors are sometimes used by the farmer to make 
   decisions.   
   It is beyond the scope of this presentation to list every factor 
   that affects crop production, however a basic list of types of 
   factors is attempted.
   Soil factors: Soil types, soil fertility  (levels of nutrients), soil 
   depth, soil moisture etc. 
   Pest factors: Historical or current infestations of soil fungus, 
   bacterial diseases, insects or weeds etc.
   Management factors:  Crop rotation practices, fertilizer and  
   pesticide applications, tillage practices etc.
   Technological factors:  Use of farm implements, improved seed, 
   irrigation, soil moisture conservation methods etc
                Weather factors: Rainfall, insolation 
                temperature and humidity.
                 
                Climatic factors: Long range 
                weather patterns (frost, length of 
                growing season, start of the rains, 
                end of the rains, degree days etc.)
  Among the factors that affect crop production in southern Africa, 
  climate related factors are the most severe
  The repercussions have been very disastrous with thousand of both 
  human and livestock lives lost
  This has also exercebated the rate of HIV/AIDS suffering food is in 
  short supply.
                   YIELD f (temperature;technology)
                                       YIELD f (water; 
                                     temperature;technology)
                                  YIELD f (water;technology)