3. - usaid

Ambassador Ferguson
in Biafra June 1969
hergency Food F'roduc t ion
Biafra - June 1969
Based on reports received in June of 1969, the Land Army in Biafra is a
success. The first crop of maize was ready the last week in May and was
better in quantity and quality than normal. Indications were that it
might be possible to have a second maize crop.
Other factors improving the food situation were the food being brought into
the enclave from adjacent areas by "bush traffic by head", the cassavas and
yams which began to appear in the local markets, and a reinstitution of
commercial transactions. Chickens brought in by airlift in April were
thriving throughout the enclave. Still another factor was the capture of
Owerri by BiafYa. There was a large food crop in the ground in Owerri
that gave mediate help to those inside the enclave.