RSS 2.0 FeedAugust 2009 vol 4, National News
UN predicts Zim cereal deficit of 180,000 tonnes
THE United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said the food insecurity situation in Zimbabwe remains acute with a projected cereal deficit of 180,000 metric tonnes of cereal for 2009-2010.
The agency said even with commercial imports, there would still be a huge deficit of cereal to feed the 12.5 million people.
According to an assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and Zimbabwean government, only 1.4 million tonnes of cereal will be available domestically, compared to the more than two million needed.
This year's abundant rainfall resulted in the amount of maize harvested recording 1.14 metric tonnes, a 130 per cent increase to over 2008.
But study warned that this winter's wheat harvest is only expected to yield 12,000 tonnes, the lowest ever, due to the high cost of fertilisers and seeds, farmers' lack of funds and the unreliable electricity supply for irrigation.
"Even assuming that 500,000 tonnes will be imported, there will still be a significant gap," OCHA warned.
The FAO-WFP assessment found that although there was increased agricultural production this year, high food insecurity persists in Zimbabwe.
