Food aid needed in rural areas

WE are in February and the rain season is effectively over in this southern part of the
country.
The southern part of the country falls under Region 5, which is suitable for small grains.
Despite this, farmers who plant the staple food maize and the rains that fall are at times
sufficient to ensure farmers’ maize is just enough to feed their families for a while.
This time around, Gwanda District fields are a complete write-off, and there are no
positives coming from the Meteorological Services Department to signal any glimmer of
hope of having decent rains to revive crops in the fields.
A story we carried in this publication last week made sad reading when Ward 16
Councillor Jairos Mahopolo said: “The situation is dire, our farm fields have turned into
waste lands. Crops have dried up such that most people have given up any hope of
recovery and have started buying maize from shops.”
Instead of crying foul over Mother Nature, contingent measures need to be put in place
immediately to assure villagers that hunger is kept at bay.
The Government should take lead and gather its partners and other stakeholders to put
in place measures that save the rural folk from starvation.
Already, villagers are reportedly barter trading their livestock in exchange for maize
meal.
Many unscrupulous people will certainly flock to the rural areas and to buy livestock
from poor villagers for a song.
In Matabeleland South, livestock is a symbol of wealth for many and taking that wealth
is certainly incapacitating them for a long time to come.
However, if the villagers receive food aid from the Government and other stakeholders,
this unfortunate scenario will be averted.