The government of Zimbabwe purchased nearly 650,000 metric tons of corn from Ukraine and Zambia following a poor harvest. The consecutive droughts trimmed the corn harvest of Zimbabwe to a record low.
The drought impacted nation is in need of $1.6 billion to feed its population of 3 million people. Nearly quarter part of the population is affected by the successive drought that damaged the nation's livestock and crops, according to Bloomberg. Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, declared the consecutive famines as a national disaster.
Bloomberg quoted Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice president of Zimbabwe, who said that the country has organised $200 million to battle hunger. He also added that the government is now using logistics to deliver maize. In January, the Central bank said that Zimbabwe received a loan amount of $200 million from the Export-Import Bank of Africa to acquire corn, which is a staple food of the people in Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the European Union also extended its helping hands by pledging to offer $3.9 million to the famine affected nation. The country has reserved 250,000 tons of corn that is expected to last till September, Bloomberg quoted John Mangudya's, governor of Central bank, aphorism in NewsDay.
Corn farmers are expected to produce nearly 200,000 tons of corn in 2016, while the consumption is anticipated to be in the range of 1.1 million tons - 2 million tons for the period from 2016 - 2017. The UN humanitarian agency said that the weather condition in Zimbabwe might be associated with the El Nino occurrence.
ZimEye said citing Emmerson Mnangagwa that the nation has received capital from the Exim bank of China and also acquired nearly 150,000 metric tons and 500,000 metric tons of maize from Zambia and Ukraine respectively. The nation's food committee has estimated 1.4 million tonnes as requirement for the government to feed the people.
According to the South Africa government, nearly 3.8 million tons of corn might need to be imported through April 2017, with some tons being distributed to nations like Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana. Zambia, a neighbour of Zimbabwe, will also reduce its harvest size in 2016 owing mainly to the dry climatic condition.
The broader region, which is also affected by the consecutive famine, might need to purchase as high as 10.9 million tons of food grains like wheat, soybeans and corn, Senzeni Zokwana, the agricultural minister of South Africa, said in a meeting. According to Wandile Sihlobo, a Grains SA's economist, the stocks in Zambia are down, and that reduces its capacity to supply grains to local markets.
Meanwhile, the European Union has extended its sanctions against the government of Zimbabwe for another year after considering the political growth in the nation, The Chronicle said. The sanctions will be applied to Cde Mugabe, the first lady of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe and the Defence Industries of Zimbabwe.
Dry climate has limited grains output in Zambia, where the harvest is anticipated to fall nearly 30% in 2016, and the smallest since the year 2009. Zimbabwe, which depends heavily on Zambia and South Africa, is now under pressure to feed its people.
Join the Conversation