Concerns over food security mount

Concerns over food security in Zimbabwe are mounting as economic problems deepen and political disturbances affect food production, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) said in a special alert at the weekend.

“The outlook for food security in Zimbabwe is unfavourable due to the combined effect of adverse weather, serious economic problems and the current unrest related to the issue of land reform which has adversely affected agricultural activities on large-scale commercial farms,” the FAO said.

It said that the current political events were taking place at a time when the farmers should be harvesting, processing and marketing their crops, particularly maize, the country’s staple and tobacco, the top foreign exchange earner. According to the FAO, now is also the time to start preparing for planting the wheat crop in June/July.

“There is growing concern that if the violence continues, there will be a serious drop in food production and supply, jeopardising national food security,” the FAO noted.

It added that although it was difficult to “gauge” the full implications of the current situation, a continuation of the current economic difficulties and violence could reduce production and export availabilities, deter investment in the agricultural sector and lower revenues from the tourist industry, fuel inflation (59 percent in 1999) and unemployment.

“This will aggravate problems of access to food for the poorer segments of the population. The situation needs to be closely monitored over the months ahead,” the FAO said.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe tobacco farmers angry over low prices on Tuesday forced auctioneers to close the opening day of sales of burley tobacco, which accounts for roughly five percent of the country’s total tobacco sales, news reports said.