Staff Writer
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says food security remains a priority in the face of a devastating El Niño-induced drought that has severely impacted Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.
During his State of the Nation Address, Mnangagwa assured the nation that the government is taking decisive steps to mitigate the effects of the drought and ensure adequate food supplies for all citizens.
The southern African nation has been grappling with a severe drought exacerbated by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
El Niño is a recurring climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can cause droughts in some regions and excessive rainfall in others.
The drought has had a devastating impact on the country’s agriculture sector, which is a primary driver of the economy. The lack of rainfall has led to crop failures, livestock losses, and water shortages.
Authorities estimate that approximately 6.2 million people in the country will need support to meet their food needs until March 2025.
“Regrettably, the El Niño-induced drought constrained our growth across all economic sectors, particularly the agriculture sector. However, under the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, communities requiring food assistance in rural areas are receiving grain, while vulnerable households in urban areas are benefitting through the Cash-for-Cereals Programme,” Mnangagwa said.
He said the government has also prioritised school feeding programs to ensure that all learners in drought-affected regions receive at least one decent meal per day.
To improve food availability and affordability, Mnangagwa said the Grain Marketing Board has established Agro-shops in rural areas.
The President said the government is supporting the establishment of 35,000 Village Business Units, which will enhance food and nutrition security at the household level.
He expressed appreciation to countries and organisations who responded to the domestic and international appeal for humanitarian assistance in the first quarter of 2024, following the devastating drought.
The President said Zimbabwe remains optimistic in respect of the 2024/25 Summer Cropping Season, with projections of normal to above normal rainfall in most provinces.
“I am pleased with the pace of inputs distribution under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Presidential Climate-Proofed Agriculture Production Scheme and other programmes,” he said.
Mnangagwa added that a new record wheat harvest of 600 000 tonnes is projected from the 2024 winter crop.
He said water harvesting remains critical to climate change mitigation and adaptation towards complementing rain-fed production systems.
The President highlighted that the full utilisation of small dams and weirs as well as conveyancing around the bigger dams is top priority to his administration.
