Published: 7 hours ago

Farmers' unions have warned that Zimbabwe may face food shortages despite forecasts of an early and above-normal rainy season.

The Meteorological Services Department recently predicted that rains will begin earlier than usual, raising hopes for a strong agricultural season. However, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) and other organisations say shortages of inputs such as seed, fertiliser, and fuel could limit production.

"Good rains alone are not enough. Farmers need affordable inputs and access to markets. Without these, we may still struggle to achieve food security," said ZFU president Paul Zakariya.

The country continues to grapple with high food import bills, with maize and wheat imports straining limited foreign currency reserves. Rural households remain the most vulnerable, with many still recovering from last year's poor harvests.

Government has pledged to increase input support through programmes such as Pfumvudza, but critics argue that the schemes often fall short of covering all farmers.
- online

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