Zimbabwe's Food Security Under Threat As Rain Season Onset Delays

The country’s food security is under threat as the 2018/19 season has already been affected by a delay in the onset of the rains.

A report by the United States Agency for International Development titled Zimbabwe Food Security Outlook (December 2018 to May 2019) revealed that:

The start of the 2018-19 rainfall season has been delayed and rains have been erratic so far. Rainfall levels across most of the country are below the normal long-term average. This has adversely affected on-farm activities such as land preparation, planting and casual labour opportunities which are below typical levels for this time of the year.

Areas to the southern and western parts of the country, covering parts of Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South, are worst affected because they have received insignificant rains to date. The dryness is also affecting water and pasture conditions that are, especially poor in arid areas of the country.

Related:

• Severe Drought Threatens Livelihoods In Rural Zimbabwe

• Drought forecasted for the first half of the 2017/18 season and floods for the second half

More: Newsday