WFP to expand targeted feeding

The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed on Tuesday that it plans to expand its support to 1.6 million Zimbabweans during December via its targeted feeding programme. WFP spokeswoman in Zimbabwe, Makena Walker, told IRIN that about 25,000 mt of food aid, left over from its assistance programme last year, would be distributed next month to vulnerable groups, including the chronically ill, child-headed households and the disabled. "At the request of the government we will go ahead and increase the number of people under WFP's targeted assistance programme. It is a necessary move because it coincides with the upcoming lean period, when vulnerability increases among the population," Walker said. Up to 600,000 beneficiaries received WFP aid between October and November. Earlier this year the government decided not to renew an appeal for international food aid and, controversially, cancelled a crop assessment mission by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and WFP, claiming the country would have a bumper harvest. Walker said: "So far there has been no indication from the government that they would like us to continue with general distributions." A report released by the parliamentary portfolio committee on lands and agriculture last month said the government had seriously miscalculated the size of its grain stocks, and noted that despite a predicted maize production of 2.4 million mt, as of 15 October the state-owned commodity buyer, the Grain Marketing Board, had received only 388,558 mt. The GMB told the committee that farmers prefered to hold onto their grain stocks rather than sell them to the board.