Maize production in Zimbabwe to decline by up to 15% in 2024/25: WFP
This deficit, driven largely by climate anomalies and insufficient humanitarian funding, places the nation at risk of heightened food insecurity and increased dependence on grain imports.
ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe is projected to experience a 10% to 15% shortfall in maize production for the 2024/25 agricultural season due to prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall patterns, according to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) March situation report.
This deficit, driven largely by climate anomalies and insufficient humanitarian funding, places the nation at risk of heightened food insecurity and increased dependence on grain imports.
The WFP report reveals that while southern Zimbabwe received above-average rainfall, northern and eastern regions endured delayed and uneven precipitation, conditions that have significantly impacted rain-fed agriculture.
Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy, are the most affected by the erratic weather, which has disrupted planting cycles and compromised yields.
“According to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports, maize production is expected to remain 10%-15% below national requirements due to poor rainfall distribution and prolonged dry spells, particularly affecting smallholder farmers,” the WFP report highlighted.
The harvest season, expected between April and June 2025, will be a pivotal period for the nation’s food security outlook. Despite early forecasts pointing to modest yield improvements in some areas, the overall production will not meet domestic consumption needs, forcing Zimbabwe to rely on imports to bridge the gap.
Adding to the crisis is a severe shortfall in humanitarian funding. According to the WFP, only 35% of the necessary agricultural recovery funds have been secured. This funding gap threatens the effectiveness of ongoing and planned interventions to support drought-hit communities.
“Humanitarian efforts remain underfunded, with only 35% of required agricultural recovery financing secured, heightening concerns over food insecurity,” the report stated.
Beyond the weather-induced setbacks, Zimbabwe’s tight fiscal and monetary policies have compounded the economic strain on the agricultural sector. The lack of liquidity and limited public investment in agriculture have left smallholder farmers especially vulnerable to shocks, reducing their capacity to bounce back from climate-related disasters.
The WFP has called for a coordinated response involving the government and humanitarian partners to strengthen the resilience of farmers.
Key recommendations include the implementation of resilience-building programmes, provision of agricultural inputs, and the development of irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effects of future droughts.
“Zimbabwe’s government and humanitarian partners must work together to provide support to farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, and enhance their resilience to climate-related shocks through the implementation of resilience programmes, provision of agricultural inputs, and support for irrigation infrastructure development,” the report emphasized.
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