Zimbabwe’s harvest of hope, path to food security remains

Editorial comment by Ilyana Sithole

The country is wafting in the air of hope, owing to the Food Security and Nutrition Thematic Working Group’s (TWG) issuance of a record 162.7% increase in first-quarter cereal production. This runaway 320% increase over last year is a palpable ray of hope for Zimbabwe as it treads the long path towards achieving true food security. For a country that has traditionally grappled with the phantoms of hunger in the face of convergence of economic winds and climatic shocks, this success is deserving of guarded jubilation.

We ought to put this success within the larger socio-economic frame of Zimbabwe. Food security, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is not merely a matter of food being available, but also available, accessible, and predictable. Too long, far too large a percentage of the Zimbabwean people have wrestled with one or all of these. Such high rates of poverty, combined with the weathered nature of rain-fed farming in the context of an evolving climate, most often have most often left families at risk from food shortages. The TWG in this instance has the important responsibility to translate this increased production into actual gain in the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

The TWG, as the focal point for food and nutrition activities, is a cross-section of stakeholders. Permanent Secretary Prof. Dr. O. Jiri’s insistence on the “Whole of Government Approach” is not a euphemism; it reflects a tearing down of silos and serious cooperation among government ministries, Zimbabwe’s long-standing development partners on its food security agenda, sometimes its critical private sector, and the significant expertise of academia. Their combined efforts, led by the TWG, are crucial to guaranteeing that higher yields find their way to those most in need.

The reported first-quarter successes are undoubtedly encouraging. The substantial boost in cereal production directly addresses the crucial element of food availability. The preliminary indications of a reduction in food-insecure individuals offer a tangible measure of positive impact. Furthermore, the reported growth in the livestock sector points towards a broader strengthening of the agricultural economy. However, as Prof. Jiri rightly pointed out, challenges persist. The acknowledged delays in fund disbursement for vital projects like borehole drilling highlight the systemic hurdles that can still impede progress on the ground.
The continued reliance on external partners, as evidenced by the call for increased private sector and development partner involvement, underscores the need for a more sustainable and internally driven food security strategy in the long run.

In the next few years, the TWG’s priorities in shaping the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the nation’s next five-year development plan, are pivotal. NDS2 is a masterplan that would define the nation’s priorities and allocation of resources. The proposed submissions to the next TWG meeting, based on the collective wisdom of all stakeholders, will contribute to the formulation of an improved and more effective food security pillar in NDS2. The phrase “Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection”. Having a key phrase like this included in the NDS2 is a reassuring phrase that reflects the interrelatedness of these key elements to sustainable agriculture, especially in a country that is reeling from the effects of climate change.

The long-overdue review of the performance of NDS1 will provide lessons learned, with a view to consolidating success and learning lessons from past failures, in NDS2. The focus on the attainment of food sovereignty – the independence of a nation to determine its own food system – and agriculture-driven economic development is congruent with the ultimate goal of having a sustainable and prosperous Zimbabwe.

Finally, the rich harvest that the TWG is celebrating is a major and long-awaited move in the right direction for Zimbabwe’s food security agenda. It presents a welcome window of opportunity to build on achievements and smooth out recurring issues. But above the production, true and enduring food security demands effective marketing channels, within-people’s-pocket affordable availability for all citizens, green agriculture practices, and a strong economic environment. Whereas today’s news is meant to demonstrate the cause for hope in Chitungwiza and in the country as a whole, sustained effort, the successful implementation of plans through the NDS2, and relentless collaboration will be genuine indicators of Zimbabwe’s success in feeding the people, everywhere, every day.