Food security and nutrition: the experience of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980

Abstract

Zimbabwe was one of the few African countries that received international acclaim or recognition for its "success" story in agricultural development in the 1980s. This recognition was generally but mistakenly equated with the elimination of hunger among the Zimbabwean population. Zimbabwe was obviously food secure at the national level during the early to late 1980s and had on several occasions exported maize to its neighbouring countries during the first 10 years of independence. The positive contribution of the peasant/communal sector to this national food self-sufficiency since the early 1980s could not go unnoticed. This was regarded as having been a response to the progressive role played by the state in advancing an effective agricultural incentive package which included better prices, extension, credit, marketing facilities etc. This paper discusses Zimbabwe's agricultural policies in the 1980s and how these led to the "success" story; the distribution of this national success among the population; the emerging problems of hunger and malnutrition and their relationship to poverty, food production and distribution. Finally, some thoughts are given on the possible integration of agricultural and nutrition policy during the 1990s and beyond.