Highlights
Increased rains in March-April have marginally improved harvests in some districts, but overall crop situation remains bleak, and food insecurity is anticipated to spike as from July in all districts, as available stocks deplete.
WFP’s 2016/17 El Niño Response Plan faces a US$43.5 million funding gap up to October 2016. A gap of US$199 million remains for the total response through March 2017.
Seven of the 13 districts planned to start Productive Asset Creation activities in May face a US$7.7 million funding gap.
Situation Update
The rainfall season tailed off in April, with 45 percent of the country having received normal to above normal rainfall levels. While increased rains in March/April have led to marginal improvements on late planted crops in some areas (mainly Mashonaland), the majority face crop failure.
Water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) results and field observations confirm the crop situation in most areas is either poor (less than 30 percent production) or failure (complete write-off).
Water availability and pasture conditions have improved some; however, cattle deaths (already estimated at 25,000 deaths for Oct 2015-March 2016) are likely to continue. Half of all herds face poor body and health conditions.
While awaiting the release of the crop and livestock assessment results, faced with the prospect of a reduced cereal carry-over stock compared to last year and the fiveyear average (FEWSNET) and the possibility of lower cereal harvest, there is a high likelihood of a second consecutive year of below average maize supplies. WFP anticipates that 2015-16 maize production won’t cover more than three months of domestic consumption requirements (of annual 1.8 million mt requirement).
WFP has revised its food insecurity projections for May and June to an estimated 1.46 million people, reflecting the positive impact of the March/April rains in 31 districts, whilst noting little to no improvement in 29 priority districts. Projections beyond June will be updated based on the results of the 2016 ZimVAC Rural Livelihoods Assessment now underway.