UN: Zimbabwean farms are recovering

29 Jul 2010

A United Nations official said on Tuesday (27 July 2010) that Zimbabwe's farming sector has increased food production from 1.2 million to 1.3 million tonnes since the 2008 food crisis.

The regional information coordinator with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Jacopo D'Amelio, told news agency Reuters that the sector is recovering thanks to international aid, better use of land and the end of hyperinflation.

D'Amelio said international aid agencies have been taking on a new approach of providing seeds, fertilisers and technical support to help local farmers secure food supplies for the country.

But he warned that funding shortages could threaten such programmes. Combined donor support helped to account for 20 percent of the country's maize output in the past season, according to relief agencies.

Source: Panos London

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