Zimbabwe has Imported More Than 400,000 Metric Tons of Maize to Cover a Cereal Deficit
Zimbabwe has imported more than 400,000 metric tons of the staple maize to cover a cereal deficit for the remainder of the 2012/13 consumption season that ends in March, the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) said on Monday.
The US-funded early warning system said the southern African country imported 432,400 metric tons (MT) during the past few months to meet a cereal gap of 436,211 metric tons.
Zimbabwe requires 2.2 million metric tons of maize to meet annual domestic consumption.
The deficit has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, with more than 1.6 million people registering for food assistance from the government and aid agencies between January and March this year.
FEWSNET said the imports have seen about 1.4 million people currently receiving assistance through government and humanitarian agency response programming while the remainder would be assisted when more maize is acquired.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
Category: Africa
