ZIMBABWE: Rains raise hope for improved harvest

BULAWAYO, 8 April 2004 (IRIN) - Recent rains across most of southwestern Zimbabwe have raised hopes for an improved harvest among small-scale farmers in the drought-prone Matabeleland region. In interviews around Gwanda and Bulawayo, resettled and communal farmers told IRIN the latest rains had revived most of the crop, and expressed the hope that they were heading for a better season. "This is the first time we have had so much rain in three years. Most of the early planted crop was scorched out by the sun, but the later crop has survived, and that is where our hopes are," said communal farmer Misheck Nare. Other small-scale farmers echoed the same sentiments. A thriving crop of maize, sorghum and millet could be seen in most parts of Matabeleland North and South provinces. Although the majority of farmers predicted that their harvests would take them through to the next planting season, agricultural analysts said the overall population would still need food aid. "This could be the first significant harvest in three years, but it does not mean getting rid of donor food aid. It can mean a temporary reduction in maize supplies, but the other commodities will remain in short supply. We should be careful not to claim big harvests when we have not seen the actual quantities," said Renson Gasela, shadow minister of agriculture for the Movement for Democratic Change. He added that since the rains had been limited to the southern area of Zimbabwe, no national forecast of harvests could be made. Gasela pointed out that most people had not received quality seed for planting. "Even those that did [get seeds] still face a crisis due to the shortage of draught power, and that certainly affects the quality and quantity of the harvest," he said. Edward Mkhosi, an agricultural expert and member of the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture, echoed the same sentiments. "We can only feel secure if we get good harvests now and in winter. The problem is that most of the current crop will go to direct consumption, since family grain reserves are empty. As a result there will be nothing going to storage." The beginning of the current planting season was dogged by a shortage of maize and other cereal seeds, fertiliser and draught power, leading to fears of a third consecutive poor harvest. The United Nations has estimated that five million Zimbabweans are expected to be dependent on food aid and other social safety schemes over the coming months, and has called on donors to provide additional funds to support humanitarian efforts through to the end of 2004. There has been no official comment or harvest projections from the ministry of lands, agriculture and rural resources. A World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation assessment survey is due to take place next month, and a report on the state of Zimbabwe's food security will probably be available in June.