Tsvangirai to assess food situation in Matabeleland and Midlands

By Tichaona Sibanda
11 February 2010

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is to conduct a quick three-day assessment of the food security situation in the two Matabeleland provinces, as well as the Midlands province, his office said on Thursday.

The country has experienced a serious deficit in food production, which has declined considerably due to disruptions in the agricultural sector since the fast-track land reform exercise was launched in 2000.

Only last week, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said the country needs to urgently import 500,000 metric tons of maize to avert food shortages following an extended dry spell that has adversely affected crop production. But critics of the former ruling ZANU PF party say the seizure of most white-owned farm land has decimated agricultural production leading to the food shortages.
Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that the Prime Minister will visit the three provinces - all in semi arid regions prone to droughts - to apprise himself of the situation.
“He’s leaving Harare today (Thursday) to visit the three provinces until Sunday. He will also seek to reassure people during the visit of government’s support to help them overcome the food crisis,” Maridadi said.
Simon Muchemwa, our Harare correspondent said while excessive rains persisted in the last couple of months causing flooding on some low lying areas, several provinces have been facing prolonged dry spells since December. This, he said, will affect the maize growth and yields which are due to be harvested in May and June.

He said shortages of maize will result in massive hunger unless the country imports 500,000 tons as a matter of urgency. In addition to weather-related difficulties, Muchemwa said farmers have faced shortages of key inputs, including fertilizer, seed, fuel, and tillage power this season. Fertilizer in particular has been in short supply.

Farmers in most of the country’s 10 provinces have indicated that maize, potato and bean crops have all been affected by intermittent drought. Robert Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's economic crisis on years of drought and a plot by western countries to bring down him down because of his land reform programme. But his critics say he escalated the economic collapse by seizing the white-owned farms. The inclusive government said it needs at least $10 billion to rebuild the shattered economy but has struggled to raise funds to finance its needs.