CURRENT SITUATION

Generally normal rains in October, which were above average in eastern parts, allowed land preparation for planting of the 2002 cereal crops and improved pastures for livestock.

Harvesting of the 2001 irrigated wheat crop is well advanced. Preliminary estimates point to a crop of 275 000 tonnes, some 10 percent higher than last year's reduced crop but still below the average of the past five years. The higher production mainly reflects a rise of 14 percent in the area planted. At the estimated production level, the import requirement of wheat until the next harvest in October 2002 is projected at 80 000 tonnes.

The 2001 coarse grains harvest was sharply reduced. The maize crop, accounting for over 90 percent of the total cereal production, was estimated at 1.5 million tonnes, 28 below last year's level and well below average. This decrease mainly reflected a decline of 54 percent in the area planted on the large-scale commercial farms, due to disruption by land acquisitions activities. In the communal areas, plantings were affected by payment delays by the Grain Marketing Board, while yields were negatively affected by a severe mid-season dry spell followed by excessive rains, particularly in southern areas.

As a result of the sharp decline in production and severe shortage of foreign exchange, the food supply situation is increasingly tight. The Grain Marketing Board has announced tenders to import 150 000 tonnes of maize. Prices of basic food staples, which had increased more than 300 percent from June to August, stabilized or declined after the Government ordered on 12 October price cuts of 5 to 20 percent for maize meal - the basic staple - and bread, meat, vegetables, milk, cooking oil and salt. However, many of the products were unavailable on the markets in the second half of the month. The food supply position is particularly critical in areas where farmers gathered a poor harvest and localized food shortages have been reported. A recent WFP food needs assessment estimated that 706 000 people are in need of assistance in some districts of Midlands, Matebeleland North, Matebeleland South, Masvingo, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland Provinces. WFP plans to distribute food aid to over 500 000 people from December.