No forex for food imports(08-02-07)

n desperately short on food. The report said the food security would worsen markedly unless the country could urgently raise the desperately needed hard currency to bankroll food imports.
Preliminary reports from the crop and food supply assessment indicate that raising hard currency in the country’s current dire economic situation will be “enormously challenging.” The organization said the impact of shortages has been exacerbated by the Grain Marketing Board state monopoly’s limited capacity to distribute throughout the country the amount of grain that is available.
“Planned imports only cover 60 percent of the assessed gap of 850,000 MT, and by the end of December 2006, only 28 percent of these planned imports had been delivered,” FEWSNET said. “It remains doubtful that Zimbabwe will be able to meet import goals,” the agency added.
Nonetheless, FEWSNET said the availability of maize meal, a Zimbabwean staple, had improved, especially in southern Zimbabwe, where local grain production shortfalls must be met with purchases from other regions.
But, “The ever-increasing cost of food and cost of living are making market purchase to fill food gaps prohibitive,” FEWSNET said. “Local maize prices are highly correlated to local food security: areas that were assessed to have the highest concentration of food- insecure people recorded the highest open market grain prices” last month.
The US-based organization painted a gloomy picture for the next agriculture season, owing to severe shortages of key inputs such as fuel and fertilizer.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has appealed to donors for US$215 million for humanitarian aid for Zimbabwe, predicting a deeper crisis in 2007.
“To avert a humanitarian crisis and potential famine, maize imports and the required financing must be sourced and secured without delay,” it said. – Staff reporter