Food production in Zimbabwe has been devastated by a combination of economic and political instability and natural disasters. Recurrent droughts, a series of very poor harvests, high unemployment (estimated at more than 60%), a restructuring of the agricultural sector and a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – at 13.7 per cent, the fifth highest in the world - have all contributed to increasing levels of vulnerability and acute food insecurity since 2001. This situation has necessitated large-scale humanitarian food assistance operations in the country.
Following a decade of economic collapse and political turmoil, a coalition government was formed in February 2009. This brought political and economic changes, and legislation was passed to allow business dealings in foreign currencies. The currency change marked the end of hyperinflation and had positive effects on food availability in the marketplace. However, due to the longer-term impact of the currency crisis and the unprecedented disruption to livelihoods and income-earning opportunities, Zimbabwe continues to battle poor liquidity and high unemployment rates. Despite some progress, challenges remain in attracting large-scale investment.
The 2011 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC), which estimates the nation’s annual food insecurity levels, predicted that more than one million Zimbabweans would be unable to access sufficient food during the lean season (October 2011 – March 2012). WFP responded with a Seasonal Targeted Assistance programme to help food-insecure households in 40 of the country’s 60 rural districts, reaching a total of one million people. Meanwhile, WFP continues to implement its year-round health and nutrition and social safety net programmes. These include support to malnourished HIV/AIDS and TB patients and their households, pregnant and breast feeding mothers, children under five, home-based care patients, and forced migrants from neighboring countries.
Although maize production rebounded from an all-time low of 400,000 metric tons in 2010 to 1,350, 000 MT during the 2010/2011 season, the country is still struggling to meet its annual grain needs of nearly 2,100,000 MT. The 2012 Final Crop and Livestock Assessment Report indicated that there is likely to be a decrease in maize production after adverse weather conditions and poor agricultural performance resulted in large hectorage of land being written off. The 2012 ZimVAC, due in June, will provide the national cereal deficit, and it is likely that the figures will be much higher than last year’s figures.
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