By Ndatenda Njanike
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has predicted that the El Niño-induced drought, which has exacerbated food insecurity across Zimbabwe, will continue until May 2025.
“Following the 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought, own-produced food stocks are widely unavailable, even in typical surplus-producing areas, while high prices and below-average income constrain access to markets.
“As a result, higher-than-normal food assistance needs are expected throughout the annual lean season,” the report said.
The report also notes the improvement of water availability and access, as well as livestock body condition, which are expected after the start of the 2024/25 rainy season.
“Some improvements in water availability and access, and pasture and livestock body conditions, are expected after the start of the 2024/25 rainy season, alleviating the critical conditions caused by the El Niño-induced drought.
“However, lingering impacts of last season’s drought are expected and will continue to negatively impact livelihoods, such as casual labour demand and payment rates, self-employment opportunities, and income from livestock sales, among others, throughout the outlook period,” said the report.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) established the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) in 1985 in response to devastating famines in East and West Africa and a critical need for better and earlier warning of potential food security crises.
FEWS NET is a leading global provider of timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent early warning information and analysis of current and future acute food insecurity.
It (FEWS NET) informs decisions on humanitarian planning and responses in 30 of the world’s most food-insecure countries.
For nearly four decades, FEWS NET and its partners have continued to monitor the increasingly complex factors influencing food insecurity, such as weather and climate, conflict, agricultural production, markets and trade, and nutrition.
Besides the context of local livelihoods, FEWS NET provides integrated food security analysis that forecasts outcomes six to twelve months in advance.