Rural households in Zimbabwe are expected to have easier access to food for the 2009-2010 consumption year compared to the previous year, The Sunday Mail reported.

A recent Interim Rural Food Security Assessment survey conducted by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) says that the 2008- 2009 agricultural season has enhanced food accessibility in rural households countrywide.

"Generally, there is an improvement in household cereal production in the 2008-09 agricultural season compared to the 2007-08 season in most rural districts and this is estimated to contribute to a marked improvement in household cereal access for the 2009-10 consumption year," states the report.

ZimVac conducted the 2009 Interim Rural Food Security Assessment in April this year to understand the food security situation for rural households.

The survey was carried out in 59 rural districts countrywide to identify areas that are likely to face food shortages, assessing food assistance in rural districts and looking at ways to address food challenges in these rural wards.

The survey confirmed that there has been an improvement in the country's yields because of good rains.

However, the rural food assessment report said despite food stability the vulnerable and orphans in all rural wards are still facing challenges in accessing food and are in need of food assistance.

Despite the generally stable food security situation obtaining at the time of this assessment in all rural districts, chronically food insecure households were reported to be facing food access challenges in all rural districts, it said.

These households comprise the aged, physically and mentally disabled, the chronically ill and orphans without any support system.

Special food assistance is required for these people in areas they are most concentrated; the communal areas, defunct mines and farm worker compounds.

ZimVac's survey recommended that cereals (maize and small grains) should be imported to make up for the harvest shortfalls and encourages the government, private and donor partnerships to continue to assist the food insecure in all rural districts countrywide in the short run.

In the long term, the food assessment survey suggested that relevant authorities should strengthen food production and improve rural incomes to avert long-term food insecurity.

Source: Xinhua