Zim: Food shortages to worsen

2003-08-25 09:30

Harare - The chronic food shortages affecting Zimbabwe are likely to continue next year as a result of low agricultural input, a regional food security agency said at the weekend.

Although climate conditions point to a better rain season for the coming year than in the past two, Zimbabwe's agricultural production is expected to remain low, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) said in its monthly report, published at the weekend.

"Prospects for the 2003-2004 agricultural season are bleak, regardless of agro-climatic conditions because of shortages of fertilizer, crop and livestock chemicals, seeds (and) fuel," the report said.

"Consequently, yields for the 2003-2004 cropping season are going to be below normal even if the climactic conditions turn out to be good," it warned.

Zimbabwe has suffered from acute food shortages since 2001, after a severe drought caused a famine in six southern African countries, compounded in Zimbabwe's case by a chaotic land reform programme launched under President Robert Mugabe in early 2000.

Under the reforms, land was taken from white farmers and redistributed to landless black people, often with little or no farming experience, causing production levels to plummet.

Some of the black farmers allocated land have yet to take possession of their new property.

Even with sufficient rainfall, the reduction of total arable land in use, notably for maize cultivation, will damage the harvest, the report said.

Other southern African countries affected by the drought have since recovered and do not require food aid, while up to 5.5 million Zimbabweans are expected to require humanitarian aid by year end.

The shortage of foreign currency that has be-devilled the country in recent years, has also led to difficulties in acquiring imported goods vital for the agricultural sector - from tractors to fertilizer.

A shortage of local currency has further undermined the ability of small scale farmers to buy such products.

Steep increases in the price of seed and fertilizers - such as the price of some hybrid maize seed, that has risen by 645% - will limit the amount of input available to small scale farmers.

The beef industry, a major foreign exchange earner, is also under threat from an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in parts of the country. Zimbabwe formerly exported de-boned beef to the European Union and South Africa.

- SAPA