By Grace Samuel
Zimbabwe is currently suffering from food shortages as a result of drought caused by El Nino.
El Nino is a naturally occurring weather phenomenon associated with a disruption of wind patterns that means warmer ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific.
It occurs on average every two to seven years, typically lasts nine to 12 months and can provoke extreme weather such as tropical cyclones, prolonged drought and subsequent wildfires.
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It was reported that the food crisis in the country has been exacerbated by an El Nino-induced drought that has hit many southern African nations.
The Zimbabwean government was quoted as estimating that about 2.7 million people in the country will go hungry this year and that it is likely to declare a state of emergency
According to reports, Zimbabwe’s staple maize harvest is expected to half to 1.1 million tons this year.
Since former president Robert Mugabe seized white-owned farms in 2000, Zimbabwe has failed to feed itself as disruption in production has led to sharp falls in output, leaving many residents reliant on food aid for survival.
