Staff Writer Treasury says food imports surged by 58.1% to US$433.5 million during the first half of 2024 compared to US$274.5 million recorded in the same period in 2023, driven by the El Niño-induced drought. The drought affected the 2022/23 agricultural season. According to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, maize imports…
Staff Writer Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube says the agriculture sector is projected to contract by 21.2% this year down from the 4.9% initially projected, due to the severe than anticipated impact of the El Niño-induced poor rainfall outturn for the 2023/24 summer cropping season. The El Niño weather pattern, characterised by unusually warm ocean temperatures…
Staff Writer At least 57% of Zimbabweans are projected to face hunger during the peak of the 2024/25 consumption year, according to a new report. According to the Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report published recently, the economy in Zimbabwe has been negatively impacted by prolonged dry weather conditions due to El Niño. The El Niño weather…
Staff Writer The United States has pledged US$62 million to Zimbabwe to alleviate the crippling effects of the El Niño-induced drought and strengthen long-term food security. The announcement comes as the southern African nation grapples with its worst drought in decades, exacerbated by the ongoing climate crisis. US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, made the…
Staff Writer The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost agricultural production in the upcoming 2024/25 summer season, targeting a significant increase in cereal yields. The plan comes amid a devastating El Niño-induced drought that ravaged the 2023/24 season. El Niño, a cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean, disrupts global weather patterns, leading to…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe is facing a period of widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions across the country, signifying severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition, from October 2024 to January 2025, FEWS NET has predicted. The alarming situation is a direct consequence of the devastating drought that began in late 2023 and intensified in early 2024,…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe has received a US$31.8 million payout from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) drought insurance scheme to bolster food security efforts amid a challenging agricultural season. Zimbabwe like its counterparts in Southern Africa, is currently grappling with El Niño-induced severe drought which has impacted millions of farming households, affecting their livelihoods, food security,…
Staff Writer The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have called for a new approach to financing climate action to back Africa’s efforts to tackle climate change. During a meeting in Tokyo, both organisations acknowledged that traditional concessional loans are not enough. They emphasised the importance of innovative financial…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe must prioritise a circular economy and climate-smart agriculture to ensure sustainable economic development, UN Resident Coordinator Edward Kallon has said. Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Annual Congress, Kallon highlighted the importance of resource efficiency and waste reduction. He noted that a circular economy framework emphasises resource efficiency and waste…
Staff Writer The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says despite the ongoing El Niño-induced drought, the economy has remained resilient and is anticipated to grow 2% this year. El Niño, a cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean, disrupts global weather patterns, leading to erratic rainfall and scorching temperatures in Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe. This year,…
