2.2 Million face food deficit in Zimbabwe

About 2.2 million people will
require food assistance between
January and March 2014, the
2013 Rural Livelihoods
Assessment conducted in May
and June has revealed.The
assessment, done by the
Zimbabwe Vulnerability
Assessment Committee, also
projected that 1,5 million people
are food insecure as the legacy
of the dysfunctional inclusive
Government that saw MDC-T,
which held the finance ministry,
starve the farming sector of
funding, bites.
The funding woes were
compounded by poor rains
received in some parts of the
country, rendering over 300 000
households food insecure.
There is, however, hope for
farmers this year as Government
and banks have mobilised a
billion dollars to finance
agriculture this season.
According to the report, areas
facing dire food shortages are
Matabeleland South, Masvingo,
Midlands and southern parts of
Manicaland.
Parts of Mashonaland East and
Central have also been severely
affected.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and
Irrigation Development Minister
Joseph Made recently said
inadequate funding was
hampering the movement of
maize from Zambia into the
country and the distribution of
maize from areas of surplus to
areas of deficit.
This has resulted in 19 425
tonnes of maize being delivered
from Zambia out of the 150 000
tonnes that were sourced on a
Government-to-Government
agreement.
Minister Made said the
Government required about US$
60 million to bring in the
remaining 137 000 tonnes of
maize from Zambia.
He said Zimbabwe has so far
paid US$10 million to Zambia and
would procure more grain once
funds permit.
"We have since written to the
Finance ministry for more funds
to enable the movement of grain
from Zambia," said Minister Made.
Zimbabwe received poor rains
last cropping season, resulting in
food shortages.
Some people facing serious food
shortages have had to import
grain from other areas with
supply, while others are selling
their livestock in exchange for
grain.
According to the report, the
2013-14 consumption year was
projected to have 25 percent of
rural households' food insecure,
which is an increase of 6
percent, compared to the
previous consumption year.