In December 2008, South Africa began providing Zimbabwe with agricultural inputs, such as seed, fertilizer and fuel, as the gravity of the country's food insecurity became apparent.
About 7 million Zimbabweans, or more than half the population, are dependent on food aid but the FAO's February 2009 report on Crop Prospects and Food Situation did not expect the situation to improve.
"Based on the weather pattern, and seed and fertilizer shortages, the early prospects for this year's [2009] harvest are considered unfavourable, pointing to another year of serious problems of food insecurity in the country," the FAO report predicted.
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