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Swaziland
Swaziland is a landlocked, mountainous country, almost completely surrounded by South Africa. Agriculture supports the livelihoods of nearly three-quarters of the Swazi population, for whom 60 % of the household income is derived from crops and livestock.
Swaziland is one of the worst affected countries by the HIV-AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa. Poverty is increasing dramatically, especially in the rural areas, and as the bread-winners die, the number of destitute families rise rapidly. These families are mainly composed of jobless old people and children who lack the means to farm their land. As a result, an unprecedented food crisis is looming. Malnutrition - even starvation - is becoming a common feature in rural communities.
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New ways of saving the old ways - Helping countries to rescue traditional foods and crops (FAO press release - 2004)
Rural livelihoods devastated by epidemic, FAO's message to AIDS conference (FAO press release - 2002)
