Prolonged dry spells could worsen food situation in Zimbabwe, warns UN agency

An already precarious food security situation in Zimbabwe could get worse, as very dry weather in several provinces will likely lead to serious damage to the upcoming maize harvest, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.

The agency reports that several provinces have not had rain since February, which will affect maize growth and yields that will be harvested in May/June.

In addition to the dry weather, farmers have faced shortages of fertilizer, seed, fuel, and tillage power this season. They also suffered flood-related damages in several districts earlier in the season, resulting from heavy rains in December and January.

Zimbabwe already faces a “critical” food security situation – primarily due to the lack of access to food – which is only getting worse due to the country’s exorbitant inflation rate – above 100,000 per cent in December 2007.

“With dwindling foreign exchange reserves and shrinking purchasing power, another year of low cereal production would severely affect the food security condition for a significant part of the population unless substantial assistance is provided,” FAO said in a news release.

In addition, Zimbabwe is one of several countries expected to be hit the hardest by the global spike in food prices, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).