On Wednesday, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster in response to an El Nino-induced drought jeopardizing food security in the country.
“The current agricultural season of 2023/2024 has not met expectations due to the El Nino-induced drought.
“As a result, over 80 percent of our country received below-normal rainfall,” Mnangagwa stated during a state of the nation address at the State House in Harare, the capital.
“In making this declaration, I also urge all Zimbabweans of goodwill, including those in the diaspora, the international community, United
Nations agencies, development and humanitarian partners, international financial institutions, the private sector, churches and other faith-based organizations, as well as individuals, to generously contribute towards alleviating this national disaster,” Mnangagwa urged.
He noted that preliminary assessments indicate Zimbabwe requires over 2 billion US dollars for various response interventions.
Zimbabwe has allocated a total of 1,728,897 hectares for maize crop and other cereals, which should have ensured a bountiful harvest, the president stated.
“We anticipate a yield of 868,273 metric tons from this season’s harvest, leaving our nation with a cereal deficit of nearly 680,000metric tons,” he stated. “This shortfall will be addressed through imports.”
“Securing food for all Zimbabweans is our top priority. No Zimbabwean should suffer or perish from hunger,” Mnangagwa emphasized.
Zimbabwe has an annual cereal requirement of 2.2 million tons for both human and livestock consumption.
However, due to drought, the country’s cereal production is anticipated to be around 800,000 tons in the 2023/24 summer cropping season, as reported by the agriculture ministry.
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