By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwean farmers are calling on the government to urgently revise the 2024 national budget and allocate more resources towards food procurement. This comes as the country grapples with a severe food shortage caused by a devastating El Niño-induced drought.
The drought has impacted not only Zimbabwe but also other parts of southern Africa, significantly reducing crop yields.
Abdul Nyathi, president of the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union, emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis, stating that many people are already facing food insecurity.
“The government should revisit the budget immediately and redirect funds towards food procurement. We need to act fast before international food prices rise,” he urged.
While initial rains in January offered a glimmer of hope for farmers who replanted after losing their initial crops to drought, their efforts were thwarted by another dry spell at the end of the month. This double blow has left farmers concerned about the long-term viability of their livestock due to diminishing pastures.
“The state of livestock is still good, but if rains don’t come by April or May, the situation will deteriorate. We are thinking about destocking, and we are also thinking about supplementary feeding, which also comes from government coffers,” Abdul added.
The situation is further compounded by estimates from the World Food Programme, indicating that around 2.7 million Zimbabweans already require food assistance, a number that is likely to increase as the year progresses.
