Govt doubles grain supply for Matobo
Brian Rungano Temba
Department of Social Development has doubled the supply of maize in Matobo from 289 tonnes to 432 tonnes under the Drought Relief
Programme to counter cases of malnutrition.
In an interview with Tateguru Tv, DSD officials said the increase has been necessitated by a surge in the number of beneficiaries.
All 24 wards in Matobo now have 43 272 beneficiaries, an increase from the previous 28 789.
The current figure covers nearly 8000 families
.
“There has been a significant increase from the number who were benefitting last season.
In December, there was slightly above 223 tonnes to around 287 tonnes. Now we are moving to 432 tonnes from the month of April to May.
The Grain distribution programme will be covering 43 272 individuals and slightly above 8000 families throughout the 24 wards of the district,” said an official from DSD.
The officials said the distribution of the caseload is proportionate to the ward’s position on the food insecurity ranking.
“… and as such, you find that different wards have different caseloads due to the many factors like population and availability of other alternative livelihood activities.
“The grain we normally have is white maize, and at the moment, there is sorghum as well as pearl millet,” they said.
DSD said Matobo has been grappling with cases of malnutrition.
“The Drought Relief Programme is a welcome development in this community. It alleviates the threat of malnutrition and crimes like theft and domestic violence that come with famine,” they said.
Drought Relief Programme has been offering relief and ensuring communities are cushioned against hunger across the country.
Community members who spoke to this publication commended the initiative and urged the government to consider long-term solutions in the form of nutritional gardens as well as smallholder irrigation schemes.
“Dams and high-yielding boreholes are needed to ensure that long-lasting solutions are given. All interventions in food insecurity should also target livestock as the area is a cattle ranching area,” said Misheck Mapindu.
Zimbabwe’s Drought Relief Programme started in the 80s as an effective response to mitigate the food crisis in the country.
It has been hailed as a practical program for preventing famine and protecting livelihoods from hunger.
Matobo lies in Region 5, characterised by perennial droughts, which are predominantly dry and have little to no rain.
Government under the Presidential Boreholes Scheme is also working on coming up with boreholes in all 38 000 villages across the country.
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