90pc Mbire maize crop a write-off

Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Mbire District is hard hit by drought, with 90 percent of the maize crop rendered a write-off by the dry spell experienced this farming season and the population is now surviving on drought relief from Government and United Nations’ World Food Programme.

Lower Guruve Development Association (LDGA) programmes coordinator Mrs Sekai Janga said the World Food Programme (WFP) is complementing Government effort in providing food aid in Mbire through the lean season assistance.

“Lean season assistance is given to communities that have 20 percent of the population affected by drought. This farming season the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee report said the district has a 23 percent food insecurity level,” she said.

“The World Food Programme is assisting people in five wards out of the 17 in the district, a population of 14 418 people and 3 625 households. People are getting 7,5 kilogrammes of cereals, 1,5 kilogrammes of pulses and 810 millilitres of vegetable oil per individual.

“For the past three months we received super cereal plus porridge for the under-fives to boosts their nutrition. The remaining 12 wards are receiving aid from Government through social welfare. The World Food Programme is ending this month and we are hoping that they renew the assistance because this is a dire situation.

“The food shortage is critical, rains stopped when the crops were flowering. According to results by Agritex, maize was the worst affected and the write off could be above 90 percent. Sorghum, sesame and cotton did fairly but the yield was affected by pest and disease outbreak.

“We have also embarked on long term projects that can assist people to develop nutritional gardens, dip tanks, splash drains, orchards and seed banks. Agritex extension officers are few in this area and we have come up with animal health management centres.”

Mbire legislature Cde Douglas Karoro said the Grain Marketing Board will bear the cost of transporting drought relief grain to all wards.

“Mushumbi ward 9, 17, 3 will collect at GMB depot. Those in Kanyemba, don’t entertain anyone who demands money for transportation of the maize. Chidodo, Gonono, Sapa, Kasemberere, Masomo your maize will come to you at zero cost.”

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