ZIM. FOOD

While ongoing food assistance programs are expected to meet
all of the assessed needs in rural areas, targeting close to four million
beneficiaries, only one third of the one million urban Zimbabweans estimated
to be food insecure are receiving formal food assistance. In urban areas,
high levels of food insecurity persist and are likely to worsen as the
hunger season continues, due to food shortages on formal markets,
exceptionally high and rising prices on parallel markets, and inefficient
maize procurement, distribution, and pricing policies.In addition to food shortages, low employment, and high inflation, urban
households must cope with declining access to public services such as water,
sewage, electricity, transportation, and waste collection, which has not
kept pace with the over- crowding in peri- urban areas that has increased
pressure on a deteriorating infrastructure. The decline in public services
and infrastructure has a direct impact on public health, food utilization,
and incomes. Sewage bursts are common in suburbs where the housing density
has increased significantly. In December, 459 cases of cholera were reported
in two high- density suburbs of Harare, attributed by city health officials
to the decline in garbage collection, sewer blockages, and erratic water
supplies. The situation is similar in other urban areas.Planting rains began early this season in most of the country. Government
estimates indicate that, midway through December 2007, farmers had planted
about 32 percent more area under maize than had been plant around the same
time last season. However, in most of the country, heavy rains since mid-
December have slowed land preparation and planting, and promoted weed
growth. Most rivers are at risk of flooding and many low- lying areas have
already been flooded. Excessive rainfall has also compromised the growth of
established crops, particularly in low- lying fields where heavy clay soils
have been water- logged. Fields with lighter, sandy soils have been leached
of nutrients. Fertilizer is scarce this season, but even those farmers with
access to fertilizer will not apply it if the rains continue with the same
intensity. Heavy rains have also disrupted livelihoods and destroyed homes
and productive assets, including livestock.The Department of Agricultural Extension (Agritex) and its National Early
Warning Unit (NEWU), and a team including the Grain Marketing Board,
Meteorological Services Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Central
Statistical Office, farmer unions, FAO and FEWS NET, plan a first round crop
assessment from the end of January to early February 2008. FAO, in
collaboration with its NGO partners, plans a post- planting assessment in
February 2008. Both assessments will focus on rural areas and are likely to
provide more information on the impact of the heavy rains on this season’s
crop production.The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) issues alerts to prompt
decision-maker action to prevent or mitigate potential or actual food
insecurity. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily
reflect the view of the United States Agency for International Development
or the United States Government.