Background

After a long period of economic decline, marked by hyperinflation, high rates of unemployment and steep drops in agricultural production, Zimbabwe’s economy is beginning to bounce back. Still, over one million people are food insecure, and many communities are in need of assistance as the country transitions from crisis to development. Around 70 percent of the country lives in rural areas and relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, which is why the agriculture sector is so crucial to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.

Thanks to generally favourable rains across most of the country and improved availability of agricultural inputs, national maize production has been on the rise for three consecutive years. It is expected to increase again by 4 percent during the 2011/12 season. As a result, food security conditions are generally stable across most of the country. However, the increased cost of living combined with slightly higher maize prices could affect the food security of low-income households, particularly as households shift to market purchases to satisfy their food requirements during the peak lean period. The national vulnerability assessment (ZimVAC) estimates that 12 percent of the rural population will be food insecure during this lean period – a three percent drop from last year’s figures.

FAO’s emergency role in Zimbabwe

FAO has taken a lead role in the coordination and monitoring of humanitarian interventions in the agriculture sector and, as such, chairs monthly agriculture meetings, bringing together the key actors in the sector.

In terms of programming, the main focus is on reviving agricultural production in Zimbabwe in order to rebuild food and livelihood security, thereby lessening the country’s dependence on large-scale food imports. FAO is, therefore, promoting better farm management (making the most efficient use of available land and inputs), through:

• increased technical support and training;
• proper farm management (timely planting, frequent weeding);
• judicious use of inputs; and
• conservation techniques.

Conservation farming is one if the best examples of appropriate conservation techniques that can increase yield while preserving the environment. Based on concepts of minimal soil disturbance, keeping the soil covered and mixing and rotating crops, conservation farming has been proven to be a viable tool in enhancing soil fertility and attaining food security. This farming practice is taking off in Zimbabwe through the collaborative efforts of FAO, NGOs, the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutes, donors and smallholder farmers.

To complement its agriculture interventions, FAO supports the Department of Veterinary Services in conducting animal vaccination campaigns (anthrax, rabies, foot-and-mouth disease). Livestock plays a vital role in the livelihoods of many smallholders.