Severe drought ravages communities in Manicaland

KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

An El Niño –induced drought is causing widespread devastation in Manicaland Province, severely affecting farmers and pushing many vulnerable children into perilous survival tactics, including mining  and prostitution, Business Times can report.

In Mutare district’s Ward 25, councillor Lingrase Ja Jarawani, described the situation as dire.

“The drought has affected us greatly as a community. We’ve lost many youths due to lack of food, pushing them to search for sustenance in mines, where many have perished,” Jarawani said.

She also highlighted the social strain caused by food insecurity, noting a rise in gender-based violence and family breakdowns.

“We’ve lost many families because of gender-based violence, resulting in numerous divorces,” she said.

Similarly, the Chimanimani community is suffering under drought’s harsh conditions.

Councillor Robert Mukamo from Ward 18 expressed frustration over lack of government aid, which he believes has intensified the crisis.

“We are starving, and our community has suffered greatly. We rarely receive presidential inputs, making it hard for us to plant this year,” Mukamo stated.

However, despite the overwhelming hardships, some hope has emerged from international assistance.

USAID, in partnership with CIMMYT, has stepped in to bolster local agricultural efforts.

Through their support, efforts to improve the quality , quantity and resilience of staple crops like maize and wheat are making a difference.

“I want to thank our donor for coming to our aid in the wake of the El Niño-induced drought,” one farmer told Business Times.

USAID’s partnership with CIMMYT has enabled farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies and diversify their income sources.

Some have started fish farming through donor-backed initiatives, earning money and funding their children’s education.

“We started fish farming through the donor projects, and we’ve been making money from it,” another farmer said.

Additionally, several other farmers have acquired oil-pressing machines through CIMMYT and USAID, allowing them to produce cooking oil from sunflowers.

“We are no longer worried about the drought, thanks to USAID’s support. This machinery has enabled us to assist the local communities surrounding us,” a farmer from Chipinge noted.

As communities in Manicaland continue to struggle, the collaborative efforts of local farmers and international organisations like USAID and CIMMYT offers a glimmer of hope for a more resilient future.

USAID Mission Director Janean Davis told Business Times that the U.S. government has  committed $62m in aid to help farmers combat the drought’s impact.

“We are here to help communities suffering from hunger and starvation due to the El Niño-induced drought,” she said.

Davis also praised  the work of

NGOs collaborating with USAID to support farmers. Initiatives like Farmer-to-Farmer, Feed the Future, and various mechanization and extension activities have been vital in mitigating the challenges faced by farmers.

Haabenzu Mukwemba, CIMMYT’s Chief of Mechanization Team, highlighted the role of mechanisation in improving farm productivity and resilience.

With the extension of their project, CIMMYT plans to introduce irrigation solutions to address the critical water scarcity issues faced by farmers in Manicaland.