ZIMBABWE* (22 September)
Aggregate cereal production in 2003 was estimated close to 1 million tonnes, 39 percent above the poor crop of the previous year but 48 percent below the 2000/01 harvest, which was itself significantly below average. The reduced harvest reflects drought conditions during the growing season and the impact of land reform activities.
Cereal import requirements in 2003/04 (May/April) have been estimated at close to 1.3 million tonnes, including 610 000 tonnes of food aid for 5.5 million people facing food shortages as a result of this year’s poor harvest. WFP has been distributing food to 1.1 million beneficiaries in 22 districts and plans to scale its operations upwards as food needs are expected to increase sharply over the next few months before the April 2004 harvest.
Following government deregulation of prices, the inflation rate for August rose to 427 percent, further eroding the incomes of the majority of the population. Basic commodities such as maize meal, cooking oil and meat have become unaffordable for large vulnerable groups. The inflationary pressure is also having a negative impact on the access of farmers to agricultural inputs, while the serious shortage of foreign currency is affecting availability of inputs, mainly fertilizers. This is in turn adversely affecting prospects for the 2004 cereal production.