A special East African Community Heads of State summit is scheduled for Arusha in March to discuss food security and the impact of climate change in the region.

The March 25 and 26 summit, comes at a time when the region faces food shortage occasioned by prolonged drought since 2007 and destructive rains recently.

A team of experts drawn from the five EAC member states will convene later this month in Arusha to lay the ground for the summit.

A statement issued in Arusha on Thursday by the EAC quoted Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, the deputy secretary general (Productive and Social Sectors) admitting that the food situation in the region was serious.

"The region is faced with serious food shortage and hence there is an urgent need by both the public and private actors to work together," he said without giving any figures.

EAC leaders usually hold their annual ordinary summits at end of each calendar year.