Zimbabwe's Livestock Crisis: A Looming Disaster Ahead of the 2024/25 Rainy Season

Zimbabwe is facing a severe livestock crisis, with poverty deaths expected to peak before the start of the 2024/25 rainy season in October. The country is currently battling the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has resulted in erratic rainfall patterns, widespread crop failures, and acute water shortages. The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) food security arm, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FewsNet), has warned that livestock poverty deaths are expected to peak due to limited access to water and pasture.

The Impact of El Niño:

The El Niño weather phenomenon has had a devastating impact on Zimbabwe's agriculture and livestock sector. Erratic rainfall patterns have led to crop failures, while acute water shortages have affected livestock production. The country's livestock sector is a significant contributor to the economy, and the current crisis is expected to have far-reaching consequences.

Livestock Poverty Deaths:

According to FewsNet, livestock poverty deaths are expected to peak before the start of the 2024/25 rainy season in October. The report highlights that limited access to water and pasture is the main cause of the expected increase in livestock poverty deaths. However, the forecasted average rainfall in late 2024 is expected to improve water and pasture availability, which will support an improvement in livestock body conditions.

Humanitarian Food Assistance Needs:

The humanitarian food assistance needs are expected to increase into early 2025, following a very early start to the 2024/25 lean season. The needs are expected to be significantly higher than last year and the five-year average. The government and the United Nations have released appeals for domestic and international support, covering immediate, short- and long-term interventions.

Government and UN Response:

The government and the United Nations have responded to the crisis by releasing appeals for domestic and international support. The African Risk Capacity, an arm of the African Union, has provided Zimbabwe with a US$31.8 million insurance payout for the devastation caused by the El Niño-induced drought. The money is expected to benefit 509,000 households.

Areas of Concern:

The areas of highest concern include the communal smallholder livelihood zones in southern, eastern, western, and extreme northern typical deficit-producing areas. However, there is also concern for most of the typical high- and surplus-producing areas in the Mashonaland provinces following a poor 2024 harvest, as well as for urban poor households with limited purchasing capacity.

Conclusion:

Zimbabwe's livestock crisis is a looming disaster that requires immediate attention and action. The country is facing a severe shortage of water and pasture, which is expected to lead to a significant increase in livestock poverty deaths. The humanitarian food assistance needs are expected to increase, and the government and the United Nations have released appeals for domestic and international support. It is essential that the international community comes together to provide support to Zimbabwe and help the country recover from this crisis.