FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO ZIMBABWE - 1 June 2001
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An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Zimbabwe from 25 April to 11 May 2001 to estimate the production of the main season cereal and pulse crops, forecast the 2001/02 winter season harvest, and assess food import requirements. Three teams comprising of a staff member from FAO/GIEWS, two international consultants and two national consultants from FAO along with two staff members (one international and one local) from WFP visited 12 selected districts from all five agro-ecolog ical zones in the country covering all eight provinces. These teams were assisted by specialists from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement (MLARR). USAID's Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) Network joined one of the teams. The crop assessment teams obtained data relating to area and yield collected by District Extension Agents (DEAs) of AGRITEX and by the national Crop Forecasting Committee. Interviews were held with farmers, traders, NGOs, project workers and governm ent officials during field visits. Crop inspections, spot check crop cuts, market surveys and livestock condition observations were conducted en route. In addition, the Mission teams were provided with remote sensed data regarding rainfall estimates, vegetation indices and interim reports, assessments and vulnerability maps. Thus, the teams were able to fine-tune initial MLARR yield forecasts, taking into consideration a wider information base and recent events. The food security assessment memb ers of the teams collected information on household food security, vulnerability, coping mechanisms and social welfare programmes of assistance for the districts visited. A standardised questionnaire was used for semi-structured interviews at farm household and district levels. The information obtained was checked against crop and livestock production data and compared with the previous year and an average of the 1990s.