Zimbabwe

Presence Country

Food Security Outlook Update

An above average harvest will continue to contribute to stable food security across the country

June 2014

southern-africa201404.zip

Key Messages

Most households in Zimbabwe, including the very poor, are experiencing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity and these outcomes are expected to continue through September. Most households are accessing cereals through own production, as a result of this year’s above average harvest.
As a result of the above average harvest, markets have responded with lower food prices in most monitored sites, particularly maize grain prices which are 13 to 27 percent below prices during the same time last year. Maize meal prices have largely remained the same as last year, with the exception of slight increases (5-12 percent) in a few locations.
Results from the Ministry of Agriculture’s second round crop assessment indicate that cereal production for Zimbabwe is around 1.7 MMT. This year’s production estimate is both 85 percent higher than the 2012-13 harvest and the highest cereal production level in the past five seasons.

This Food Security Brief is a starting point for anyone seeking a deep understanding of the range of factors influencing food security in Zimbabwe. It draws on decades of FEWS NET data and information on livelihoods, household vulnerability, nutrition, trade, and agro-climatology, as well as an array of other sources. It provides an overview of the food security context, the main determinants of chronic and acute food insecurity, and areas at most risk of food insecurity.