Southern Africa food insecurity worsens on Zimbabwe

By Muchena Zigomo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The number of hungry people in southern Africa rose over the past year largely due to the crisis in Zimbabwe, despite a lower regional cereal deficit, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) said on Thursday.

The region's maize surplus rose following favourable rains and increased supply of seeds.

SADC forecast that expected good rains and availability of seed and fertilizer would lead to larger maize harvests by most of its members this season.

Zimbabwe has consistently recorded a decline in maize output due to shortages of seed and fertiliser and has been forced to rely on imports and food aid since 2002.

The country's agriculture output has plunged since 2000 when President Robert Mugabe targeted white-owned commercial farms for seizure to resettle blacks, hitting a farm-based economy.

"In spite of the expected improvement in cereal production, food insecurity and malnutrition among the vulnerabe groups remains high," SADC said in the agenda of a regional agriculture ministers' meeting on Thursday in Johannesburg.

"The increase is attributed to a rise in the number of food insecure people in Zimbabwe," it added.

Despite improved food output in the region, the number of people without enough food and requiring humanitarian assistance rose to about 7.6 million this year from about 6.48 million in the 2007/08 season.