Crop growing communal areas report insufficient harvests
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform’s crop prospects, food security, and drought report for July 2023 released this week observed a significant decline in crop yields following the recent harvest.
Aggregate cereals yielded 9% below the harvest of the previous season, although 23% above the 10-year average production.
The reduction in output can be attributed primarily to unfavourable growing conditions during the 2022/2023 rainfall season, the report noted.
“All communal regions involved in crop production reported insufficient harvests, which failed to enhance household food security. While the commercial sector demonstrated an improvement in cereal production, it remains insufficient to meet the country’s consumption demands,” the report added.
Furthermore, the report said the food security situation has significantly deteriorated and has not shown improvement, following the recent poor harvest.
“A considerable number of households have reported depletion of their harvest from the previous season, and they are now relying on the recently harvested grains, supplemented by market purchases to extend their food availability,” the report noted, adding that it is projected that the recent harvest will be exhausted between August and December, leaving households in a state of food insecurity.
The report recommended that the government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, should continue with drought relief to households that are faced with food insecurity in the affected regions until the situation normalizes.
Furthermore, the report said the government should consider the roll-out of food assistance and livestock support programmes and continue with construction, rehabilitation, and excavation of earth dams and boreholes in areas where communities are facing water shortages.
