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Assessment of the food situation in Zimbabwe - December 2008 / January 2009
National NGO Food Security Network (FOSENET)
February 12, 2009

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Executive Summary

Availability

The pattern of vulnerability has remained the same, viz: The elderly, the unemployed, people living with AIDS, and orphans.

Fertilizer availability has not improved with farmers having planted without basal fertilizers and now requiring top dressing which is unavailable . Maize seed supply also improved as 28% of districts report seed availability but this could be attributed to the decrease in demand as the planting season is over.

Commercial food availability is better than it was at the same period last year, using maize meal and cooking oil as indicator foods. Food is largely available on both the formal market and parallel market.

Affordability

Food prices in the formal and parallel market are showing signs of going down due to increase in supply and availability. Most traders, hawkers, retailers are selling in foreign currency with the Zim dollar equivalent being prohibitive.
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Access

Access to relief food is reported in most districts to be without major barriers. Districts that are receiving relief have welcomed it as relief food is replenishing their dwindled stocks.

Production

Reports indicate that the southern parts of the country have received good rainfall and communities hope that if the current rainfall pattern continues, many households will be food secure up to the middle of the year.

Coping Strategies

Coping strategies were reported to be primarily individual and household based. As household resources have become stretched, so community and social inputs for vulnerable groups have fallen. Monitor reports indicate the growing squeeze on households to meet basic needs. This has now extended beyond food, and includes rising costs of health, education and other basic services.

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