Lets be proud of revolutionary fruits-FAO #zimbabwe

EDITORIAL
The Food Agriculture Organisation and World Food
Programme report a significant reduction in the number of
Zimbabweans who will need food assistance in the period
January to March next year. The actual figure is 565 000, a
steep decline from a high of 2,2 million people. The decline
in the number of people in need of food assistance
corresponds to increased production in the 2013/14
cropping season from 758 000 tonnes to 1,4 million tonnes.
The rise in production reflects the impact of the Presidential
Well-Wishers Input Scheme under which 1,6 million
households in communal lands and A1 farms received seed
packs, fertilisers and lime. It can also be attributed in no
small measure to a relatively good rainy season. WFP
Zimbabwe representative and country director Mr Sory
Quane acknowledged as much when he pointed out that
Zimbabwe "is prone to a series of droughts".
The increased food production in the current season has not
made Government sit on its laurels. On the contrary, there
are clear indications that there is a lot of forward thinking
going on. Just last week an organisation called Larsh
Enterprises and Zanu-PF Youth League launched a US$2,4
billion programme to help farmers purchase inputs during
the 2014/15 cropping season.
This will go towards crops inputs and livestock, the latter
targeting to restock the country's cattle herd which has
been ravaged during years of successive droughts. Both
programme underscore that Government is not just paying
lip-service to the Food Security and Nutrition cluster of
Zim-Asset.
Consequently, Government has urged farmers to surpass
the two million tonne maize production target envisaged
under Zim-Asset. Production figures of 1,4 million tonnes
from the current cropping season indicate that the two
million tonnes is a fairly modest figure given enough, timely
support in the form of inputs.
It is, however, important also to take seriously the issue of
droughts. We must be grateful that last year we had a good
rainy season although much of the rain came a bit late. But
it might not have come at all.
That means the country cannot continue to look to the skies
to determine the level of productivity and therefore food
security every season. There is need for deliberate
interventions by both Government and the private sector to
make this a national priority.
Many individuals are already stretched to the limit in terms
of resources while banks have been over-cautious and
prudent in helping make a success of the land reform.
WFP's Mr Quane makes pertinent observations which must
be taken seriously by all Zimbabweans of goodwill.
"Hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition are complex
problems that cannot resolved by a single stakeholder of
sector," he pointed out in the report on the food situation in
the country.
"There should be comprehensive policies, strategies and
investment programmes based on evidence and experience,
addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity."
This points to the need irrigation in some areas, better skills
in handling what has been produced to minimise wastage
and targeted funding where there are deficiencies. But even
more importantly, he notes that this cannot be left to a
single stakeholder.
It is a national task. It should be embarrassing to every
self-respecting Zimbabwean to be associated with
starvation and malnutrition when we can do better.
Those still nostalgic about white commercial farmers and
bitter about the land reform are simply refusing to
acknowledge a living reality that a revolution has taken
place and Zimbabwe is forging ahead. Let's be proud to do
things on our own.