THE bulk of the 2023/2024 maize crop is a complete write off following below average rainfall, agricultural sector leaders disclosed this week, warning that over half of the population would require food aid.

The unions spoke as captains of Zimbabwe’s largely agro-based industries warned of steep write-downs in fragile manufacturing firms as demand slips, under pressure from falling incomes and rising cost of living.

Swaths of maize crops had wilted, with farmers saying most of the affected crop would not recover even if rains returned.

Thousands of cattle have already died due to water shortages in Matabeleland South and some parts of the country, while wildlife experts warned this week of a surge in poaching in the coming months as water shortages mount.

In Mashonaland West, some farmers had by last week freed livestock to feed on the wilting maize crop, according to reports.

This week’s warning from farmers and industrialists came as the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) warned in January that current reserves would last only four months.

El-Nino induced weather patterns, which are characterised by below average rainfall, have amplified an already dire situation in Zimbabwe, which is battling to shake off an intractable economic crisis marked by a free-falling currency.

Prince Kuipa, field operations director at the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU), described the crop situation across provinces as dire