2010-01-20
Drought leads to escalated fears of food shortage in Zimbabwe
The drought that has affected Zimbabwe in December and January is like to have severe and lasting effects on the food security of the country over the coming months.
The government of Zimbabwe has been urger to prepare for an impending food shortage as a result of the drought that has been experienced across the country. House of Aseembly Member Rosemary Goto made the call for the government to "immediately prepare a major drought relief programme to avert starvation an hunger in the face of potential maize shortages". Goto also called for the installation of irrigation facilities in every district and blamed the drought on climate change. The government has consistently been urged to increase its support for farmers to ensure domestic food security since the controversial land reform programme began in 2000.
Zimbabwe has been faced with a food crisis since 2003 despite an improvement in the grain harvest in 2008 and the rainfall in 2009. A joint report from the WFO and FAO in May 2009 estimated that around 2.8million peple would suffer from food shortage in the country between April 2009 and March 2010. The drought, expected to last for at least the next six months, will only exacerbate this crisis
ZBF continues its agricultural inputs programme which helps to bring food relief to Zimbabweans. Now more than ever, help is needed. If you would like to know more and suppoort ZBF's work in this area please contact ZBF on 020 7637 1527 or on zbf@zbf.org.uk.
To see more about our current project running in this area, please click here.
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