Tinaye Agere
Theseus Shambare
LANDS, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos has highlighted the country’s successful response to the 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought.
Speaking at the five-day 52nd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome, Italy, on Monday, Deputy Minister Haritatos emphasised the importance of data-driven decision-making and a multi-sectoral approach.
“Zimbabwe was hit hard by the El Niño and becoming the epicentre of the drought in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Deputy Minister Haritatos said.
“Despite these challenges, we implemented a comprehensive response strategy that proved to be effective.”
A key factor in Zimbabwe’s success, he said, is its reliance on data-driven decision-making.
The Government established a robust Food and Nutrition Security Information System to generate evidence for policy decisions.
“Timely, scientific, and credible data is critical in informing policy formulation,” he said.
The Government’s response included food distribution, supplementary grain importation, irrigation development, borehole drilling, and scaling up the schools feeding programme.
“These efforts helped to alleviate hunger and ensure that vulnerable populations had access to essential resources,” he said.
Recognising the regional impact of the drought, Zimbabwe collaborated with the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to develop a regional humanitarian appeal.
“This collaborative effort helped to mobilize resources and coordinate response efforts across the region,” he added.
He also highlighted the importance of a multi-sectoral approach.
“Zimbabwe boasts of high political commitment and an enabling environment for food and nutrition security implementation.
“By working together across different sectors, we were able to address the complex challenges posed by the drought,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s experience in responding to the El Niño-induced drought offers valuable lessons for other countries facing similar challenges.
As the world continues to grapple with the impact of climate change, Zimbabwe’s response serves as a model for building resilience and ensuring food security in the face of adversity.
Online Reporter