Crop condition better in northern parts of Zim

IN December, almost the whole country received normal to above normal rainfall although poor spatial and temporal distribution was reported in some parts of the country.

By end of December, the country had received accumulated seasonal rainfall between 75% and 125% of the long term average and is considered typical.

Crop condition in the northern parts of the country was mainly average and mediocre in the southern parts.

Government distributed approximately 66% of maize seed and 88% of basal fertiliser targeted under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme which targets mainly rural communal farmers.

Government estimates a 63% increase in area planted under maize and is targeting a production of three million tonnes of maize.

On-farm-based casual labour opportunities are gradually improving with the scaling up of farming activities.

This is likely to lead to an improvement in income for households who are able to access such opportunities.

Livestock condition is fair to good due to an improvement in availability and quality of grazing pastures as well as water.

Headline inflation continued to steadily decelerate with annual inflation shedding 11.2 percentage points from 255% in November to 243,8% in December 2022, and monthly inflation gained 0,6 percentage points from 1,8% to 2,4% over the same period.

In December, the price of Compound D increased by 46% from $31 500/50kg in November 2022 to $46 082/50kg in December, while the price of AN fertiliser increased by 25% from $45 500/50kg to $56 688/50kg compared to November 2022.

When compared to the same time last year, the prices of the two commodities increased by 821% and 530%, respectively.

According to HungerMap LIVE, 5,2 million people were estimated to have insufficient food consumption and eight million were estimated to be resorting to “crisis and above” food-based coping, similar to October.

Midlands, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland Central, West and East provinces reported the greatest increase in insufficient consumption over the last three months.

Prices of basic food basket commodities were stable between November and December 2022 in both urban and rural markets, but remain significantly higher compared to the same time last year.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network projects that vulnerable urban households are likely to be Stressed (IPC Phase 2) as cost of living continue to rise. In typical rural deficit-producing areas in the south, east, west, and far north, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are likely to persist throughout the lean season into early 2023.

The food poverty line for an individual was pegged at $22 193, which is stable when compared to November 2022.