Posted on 02/17/2003 12:48:14 AM PST by Clive
The United States government has confirmed that Zimbabwe will experience a serious shortfall of the staple maize crop due to poor harvests largely blamed on the drought and the chaotic land reform programme, which cut production in the once thriving commercial agricultural sector.
In an interview, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Walter Kansteiner, told The Daily News that the US government was “less optimistic” about the food security situation in Zimbabwe, once considered the region’s granary, due to poor harvests expected from April onwards.
“There seems to be ample food supply and there are potential good harvests for all the countries in the region, with Zimbabwe being an exception. “We are less optimistic about the food supply situation because of poor harvests that will be coming around March or April, particularly that of the staple (maize crop), where there will be a serious shortfall,” Kansteiner said.
However, he said the food supply situation in the whole region was gradually improving, while malnutrition rates were “lessening and people now have a higher calorie intake, with the exception of Zimbabwe”.
He also said that the Bush administration has so far donated more than 220 000 tonnes of food worth about US$112 million (Z$6,16 billion at the official exchange rate) to alleviate the effects of the worst famine Zimbabwe has experienced in two decades.
Kansteiner said the food has been distributed through non- governmental organisations (NGOs), among them the World Food Programme and World Vision, to ensure transparency and fairness.
This follows reports that the government and the ruling Zanu PF party has in some outlying rural areas hijacked the food distribution and was favouring party members at the expense of known or alleged members or sympathisers of the opposition MDC party. Kansteiner said the US wanted to ensure that donated food was distributed to everyone facing starvation regardless of their political affiliation or views.
“More food is on the way and 100 percent of that food goes to NGOs. Nothing goes to the Grain Marketing Board or the Zimbabwe government.”
“We feel that it is only through the NGOs that the food will get fair and equal distribution to the most needy, regardless of their political affiliation,” Kansteiner said.
Famine relief projections have hitherto been based on requirements until the summer harvest (March - April in Zim)
There will be no summer harvest and the least cause of it is drought. In order that there be a summer harvest, there has to be a spring planting, which effectively did not take place in much of the former commercial agriculture lands.
Zimbabwe was once considered the breadbasket of southern Africa, even in dry spells.
Last southern hemisphere winter I predicted not only the failure of the winter crop but the failure of a summer crop as well. With autumn approaching, my prediction is that there will effectively be no winter crop this year.
Maize is the staple grain of southern Africa. Notwithstanding the panic attempts of Agriculture Minister Made last winter to grow maize, there are no winter maize hybrids suitable for Zim. Wheat is the winter crop. It doesn't need as long a growing season or as much moisture.
But even wheat will not be planted in sufficient quantity as Zim is now a slash-and-burn, beast-draughted, scratch, subsistance economy. This being formerly the most advanced agrarian economy n southern Africa.
From breadbasket to basket case in less than 3 years courtesy of Comarade Mugabe.
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