Source: ‘Rains won’t ensure improved harvests’ | Newsday (News)

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

A FOOD security report by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has ruled out improved harvests following the current wet spell it described as coming a little too late.

An OCHA Food Security Early Warning System (Agromat report) released on Monday said hunger looms large again, with little chance that planted crops will produce a better harvest following the recent rains.

“Rainfall improved in central parts of the region in February, benefitting crop conditions for some areas, but for many crops in southern Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique, the rains came too late to save the crop from permanent wilting,” the report read.

“Despite improvement in vegetation conditions after the January and February rainfall, seasonal accumulation of vegetation indices remains below average, with poor grazing conditions in a number of areas, including Namibia and southern Zimbabwe,” the report added.

Already, hunger stalks the country owing to the El Nino-induced drought. Mealie-meal is scarce at retail shops and found on the black market at exorbitant prices, adding to the woes of long-suffering Zimbabweans.

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