Drought Parches Four Zimbabwean Provinces, Devastating Harvest Hopes
Relief agencies have started systematically assessing the crop situation in
Zimbabwe and will soon issue a comprehensive report on the resumption of
food assistance programs, sources said
Gibbs Dube | Washington 11 March 2011
Agricultural experts and food officials say maize crops in the Zimbabwean
provinces of Matabeleland South and North, Masvingo and portions of Midlands
must be written off due to insufficient rains in the past month or so with
the harvest period coming up fast.
Maize fields in particular have been reduced to dust bowls in such areas,
dashing hopes of generous harvests. The last significant rains there were
recorded early this year.
Relief agencies have started systematically assessing the crop situation and
will soon issue a comprehensive report on the resumption of food assistance
programs.
Gwanda North Member of Parliament Thandeko Zinti Mnkandla said relief
agencies should start food distribution to affected areas. “Most subsistence
farmers in these regions are facing hunger as their crops have failed due to
inadequate rains,” Mnkandla said.
Relief worker Faith Ncube said some non-governmental organizations are
assessing the food situation in drought-hit regions. “We hope that these
organizations will come up with a comprehensive food distribution program
which will cater for millions of people in Matabeleland, Masvingo and
Midlands provinces,” Ncube said.