WFP praises Zimbabwe for being food secure

The World Food Programme (WFP) has commended the Government of Zimbabwe for successfully ensuring that the country is food secure.

Over the past couple of decades Zimbabwe has had to grapple with a food crisis prompting it to import basic food stuffs such as maize and wheat despite the country having the capacity to produce it in abundance.

However, earlier this year, Government announced that Zimbabwe achieved a milestone in wheat production after attaining a record-breaking 375 000 tonnes and 1.5 million tonnes of maize in the 2022/23 agricultural season making it food secure and having enough to export even to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

“WFP applauds the progress made towards food security in Zimbabwe despite the set-backs and complex climatic and economic challenges in recent years.

However, as the country celebrates the availability of adequate cereals stocks to meet the overall national requirements, we also acknowledge that many poor households struggle to meet their food needs,” said WFP representative and country director, Francesca Erdelmann.

In addition, Erdelmann said they have been been complementing government efforts by providing support to more than 16 000 refugees as well as relief assistance to floods and drought-prone areas.

“Together with Government we can realise an equitable and sustainable future for our food systems to ensure that every person in Zimbabwe has access to and consumes sufficient, diverse and nutritious food at all times,” added Erdelmann.

Zimbabwe requires 360 000 tonnes of wheat annually and last year’s harvest was the highest since wheat farming began in 1966, with a new record expected this season of around 425 000 tonnes.