The World Food Programme (WFP) plans to double the number of people receiving food aid in Zimbabwe by January 2020 to 4.1 million.
This follows natural disasters, a severe drought and tropical cyclone in the 2018/19 farming season, and an economic crisis.
Reports indicate that currently, 7.7 million people, roughly half the country’s population, are facing severe hunger.
Climate change characterised by rising temperatures has exacerbated an already fragile situation in the Southern African sub-region.
According to newZWire, maize production has fallen over the last two years. In 2019, maize production is expected at 776,635 tonnes, far less than the 1,700,702 tonnes produced in 2018.
93% of urban households are reportedly living below the total consumption poverty line also known as the Poverty Datum Line (PDL).
A WFP study shows that Norton has been hit the hardest in terms of food insecurity.