In 2009, about 280,000 people (5 percent of the total population) are food insecure, with most parts of the country being classified as overall food secure (FEWSNET 2009). Regions facing food shortages include Arusha, Dodoma, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, parts of Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Shinyanga, and Tanga (Arusha Times, 2009). However, failure of rainfall in the bimodal northern, northeastern, and northern coastal areas, and continuous increases in maize, rice, and bean prices to 40-60 percent above their five year averages has resulted in food shortages (FEWSNET 2009).