…villagers turn to Nyii for survival
By Courage Dutiro
As the El Nino-induced drought threatens food security in communities, Buhera District in Manicaland which falls under natural regions four and five has not been spared as it has been hit hard by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease threatening to wipe off livestock, their source of livelihood.
Prolonged dry spells which caused most crops to be written off, have left villagers in the district in a state of food insecurity and the situation has forced some villagers to resort to the wild fruit Nyii (bird plum) as a source of sustenance.
Buhera Rural District Council Ward 23 councilor, Denboy Maweni said due to high temperatures and low rainfall that have characterized this farming season, crops have been left in a state of devastation, as fields are now bare, pushing the cost of a bucket of maize to skyrocket beyond the reach of many households.
“Prolonged high temperatures, coupled with dry weather have ravaged crops and pushed the price of maize beyond the reach of many households. A bucket of maize is now going for US$11 and if the situation persists the price will rise and many villagers cannot afford it,” said Maweni.
He also said while some villagers receive food aid from World Vision, those excluded from the programme struggle to put food on the table.
“Others are getting food assistance from World Vision, but those who did not have an opportunity to be in the programme are the ones who are finding it difficult to provide food for their families,” said Maweni.
Sunungurai Jori, councilor for Buhera Rural District’s ward 28, said the drought has sucked out the life of the fields forcing some villagers to resort to Nyii as a source of sustenance for their families.
“There is no longer anything in the fields, vanhu kutopona neNyii idzodzi, kutoti ukadya womwa mvura (Some are relying on Nyii as a source of food and after eating the fruit then they drink water).
“Due to crop failure others have resorted to picking and selling Nyii to feed their families. A bucket of Nyii is going for US$ 4 which is not enough even to buy half a bucket of maize and if you consider the labor one goes through to fill one bucket you will see that people are really struggling,” said Jori.
He also said besides the hunger that they were facing, they are also struggling with an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that was threatening their livestock.
“Apart hunger, we are battling a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that is threatening our livestock.
“We were encouraging people to destock if the drought persists till the end of March but due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth the idea is no longer applicable,” he said.
According to a post-cabinet briefing held on March 5 2024, the 2023 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) projected that 26 per cent of the country’s population would be food insecure during the period between the months of January and March.
“The nation is informed that the 2023 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) projects that 26 per cent or 2 715 717 of the country’s population is food insecure during the period January to March 2024.
“The registration of food-insecure people and the distribution of grain has commenced in all areas across the country’s eight rural provinces and is being led by traditional Leaders who are ably supported by Councillors and Government officials.
“The registration of beneficiaries and distribution of grain will continue unabated during the El Nino-induced drought period,” read part of the Post Cabinet briefing.
