Food shortages to worsen after Zimbabwe wheat crop slumps again

Business News

Jun 2, 2008, 9:34 GMT

Harare/Johannesburg - Shortages of bread in Zimbabwe are expected to worsen after preparations for the country's winter wheat crop failed, state media said Monday. As President Robert Mugabe flew to Rome for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) summit on food security, the state-controlled daily Herald said that farmers planted 8,963 hectares of wheat this winter, only 13 per cent of a government target of 70,000 ha. It was also 53 per cent less than last year's plantings. 'We have missed the target, with challenges being shortages of fertilizers and fuel as well as frequent breakdowns of tillage facilities,' Agriculture Minister Rugare Gumbo was quoted as saying. Irrigation of the just planted crop was also affected by power cuts, he said. Zimbabwe used to produce close to 400,000 tonnes of wheat annually, but output has collapsed since ruling party members and allies began seizing white-owned commercial farms in 2000, driving down agricultural output by over 60 per cent. Bread is always in short supply now. Zimbabwe's winter wheat crop needs to be planted by May 10, after which the rate of germination of the seed and development of kernels on the plant become increasingly negligible. 'We should not expect much from any plantings after the deadline,' the Herald quoted an unnamed agricultural economist as saying. Agriculture analysts said the fall in wheat plantings also resulted in part from the violent occupation of scores of white-owned farms immediately after March elections in which 84-year-old Mugabe's party was beaten by the pro-democracy opposition. Mugabe, who is in Rome with his wife Grace, has been allowed to circumvent a European travel ban on him and about 200 members of his ruling elite, because of a loophole that permits them to attend United Nations meetings.

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tripleplayJun 2nd, 2008 - 10:50:12

I see his form of democracy is such a success. All the fighting and the in power elite are sure doing their darndest to make sure they take care of the inflation by killing thier population through starvation or war. The UN needs to support Tsvangari!!

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BingoJun 2nd, 2008 - 10:51:58

As long as people still use unhelpful language like in this article racism will reign for a longer period of time. The underlying problems for Zim not meeting targeted hectarage is ssimply poor management around projects. Whether white or black the mistake can be repeated. The constant reference to 84 year old Mugabe and the land reform program there will always be people sympathising with the black population of Zim.

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RedJun 2nd, 2008 - 16:40:51

'Zimbabwe used to produce close to 400,000 tonnes of wheat annually, but output has collapsed since ruling party members and allies began seizing white-owned commercial farms in 2000, driving down agricultural output by over 60 per cent.'

Us devils, the whites that is, sure messed things up again. When are we going to learn to stay out of other countries problems?

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Food shortages to worsen after Zimbabwe wheat crop slumps again

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