Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE’S food security improved significantly in July this year driven by an above-average harvest, a stable local currency and expanded resilience programmes, the latest World Food Programme (WFP) Markets Monitoring Report reveals.
Zimbabwe’s food security outlook showed marked improvement in July following a challenging drought year, with maize meal accessible in 97% of markets and prices for key staples stabilising or falling, according to the latest food security and market monitoring report.
WFP said throughout the month of July, field monitoring teams across Zimbabwe observed evidence of recovery and transition in terms of food security.
“Following the devastating El Niño-induced drought in 2024, particularly in southern districts such as Beitbridge and Mwenezi, signs of resilience and adaptation are emerging,” the latest report read.
“The government and its partners’ interventions — ranging from borehole drilling to the establishment of drought mitigation centres — have been instrumental in protecting the national cattle herd in the southern regions, for example.
“In districts across Matabeleland North and South, WFP monitoring noted the rollout of climate-smart livestock breeding programmes and intensified vaccination campaigns against blackleg and lumpy skin diseases.”
The report said weekly dipping and pest control measures were being enforced, with veterinary officers now more accessible due to decentralised services and realignment of their roles.
“These efforts are not only preserving livestock but also restoring confidence among rural farmers who rely heavily on cattle for income and draught power,” WFP said.
“Meanwhile, the 2025 harvest has brought a wave of optimism. In Mashonaland West and Central, households reported improved food access due to the above-average maize and cotton yields.
“In the major markets accessed (Mbare Musika, Harare and Kudzanai, Gweru), maize grain prices were between 30% and 40% lower than in July 2024.
“A reduction in staple (maize meal) price was observed in most of the other rural and urban markets across both surplus and deficit-producing areas.”
The report said the price drop had significantly improved food access for poor households across provinces.
“Village business units (VBUs) continue to transform rural livelihoods. In some districts in the country, VBUs powered by solar irrigation, generated significant amounts of money from their first harvest,” the international food assistance organisation said.
“Managed by local women and youth, the units supply fresh produce like green pepper and cabbage to nearby markets. In Mashonaland Central, VBUs are enabling communities to irrigate winter maize and vegetables, with produce sold to Mbare Musika and local supermarkets.
“These initiatives are not only improving nutrition, but also creating employment and reducing rural poverty. Winter wheat farming is another area of progress.”
WFP also said remittances remained vital for food security in the country with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe indicating that diaspora remittances increased by 8,4% in the first half of 2025, compared to last year.
On the macro-economic situation, WFP said Zimbabwe recorded a month-on-month increase in consumer prices of 1,6% in local currency terms, an increase compared to the 0,3% rise noted in July this year.
“Data from the national statistics office indicates that annual inflation was measured at 95,8%, representing the forth annual inflation figure (April 2025 at 85,7%, May 2025 at 92,1% and June at 92,5%) released since the launch of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) in April 2024,” the report said.
“By the close of July 2025, the official exchange rate stood at ZiG26,79 per USD, largely unchanged from ZiG26,95 per USD at the end of June 2025.
“The parallel market exchange rate remained steady at approximately ZiG37.00 per USD during the same period. Globally, the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 130.1 points in July 2025, marking an increase of 2.1 points (1,6%) from June 2025. While the price indices for cereals, dairy and sugar declined, they were outweighed by increases in the indices for meat and vegetable oils.
“Overall, the FFPI was 9.2 points (7,6%) higher than in July 2024, yet remained 30.1 points (18,8%) below its peak reached in March 2022 (144.5 points).”
The report said the average cost of the full Minimum Expenditure Food Basket in US dollars was estimated at US$21,13 in July which is 4% below the US$21,94 recorded in the previous month.
“Year-on-year, the USD cost of the basket has remained relatively stable. In local currency terms, the MEB was priced at an average of ZiG766,56 in July 2025, showing stability when compared to ZiG798,02 in June 2025,” it said.
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