Zimbabwe

Local presence country
Zimbabwe
 Flag of Zimababwe
Food Security Outlook Update
August 2023
Prices remain stable but purchasing power is low for low-income households
  • In northern surplus-producing areas of Zimbabwe, Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity outcomes are ongoing as households access food from their 2023 harvested stocks and have access to typical income-earning opportunities, along with food and cash crop sales. In the deficit-producing areas, widespread Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes remain present in the post-harvest period due to limited own-produced food stocks and as the high cost of living constrains household purchasing power. In some extreme deficit-production areas in the south and other areas, household food stocks from the 2023 harvest are gradually depleting, and households are likely to begin engaging in coping strategies indicative of Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in August and September, earlier than normal. In urban areas, the high cost of living and limited access to income is making it difficult for poor households to meet their non-food needs, driving Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes.
  • The official and parallel market exchange rates appreciated by about 30 percent in August, supporting the general stability of ZWL prices for goods and services. In August, ZIMSTAT reported that the ZWL cost of living reduced by about 10 percent compared to July; however, the ZWL cost of living remains high for most poor rural and urban households following sustained increases over the past several months. Most poor households engaged in casual labor and petty trade are operating and earning in USD, cushioning households from the high ZWL cost of living, and continue to purchase goods from the informal markets, which retail in USD and continue to be relatively cheaper than the main formal retail shops. 
  • The sale and marketing of cereal grain and other crops is ongoing on the open market, especially in surplus-producing areas, as the tobacco and cotton marketing seasons slowly tail off. In deficit-producing areas, poor households are expected to increase their engagement in off-farm activities such as petty trade, construction, the production and sale of vegetables, and artisanal mining to earn income, with the earlier than normal start of the lean season in September and October.
  • Climate forecasts suggest increasing confidence in a strong El Niño by late 2023. El Niño typically leads to delayed and cumulatively below-average rainfall in Zimbabwe. Irregular rainfall will most likely negatively impact the planted area, in turn limiting the availability of agricultural labor opportunities and household access to income in late 2023 and early 2024. Livestock body conditions are also likely to decline as pasture and water diminish, especially in semi-arid areas. Close monitoring of rainfall totals and distribution will be required to assess the severity of adverse impacts on cropping conditions for the 2024 harvest. Government and other agencies should prepare for rising food assistance needs in 2024.
 Read the full analysis
Latest Analysis Latest Analysis
View All Zimbabwe Analysis
Food Security
Key Message Update ZWL prices drop following a decline in exchange rates Zimbabwe July 2023
Food Security Outlook Below-average incomes and harvests reduce food access in deficit areas Zimbabwe June 2023 - January 2024
Key Message Update Further depreciation of ZWL negatively impacts household purchasing power Zimbabwe May 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe August 2023
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe July 2023
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe June 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security
Key Message Update ZWL prices drop following a decline in exchange rates Zimbabwe July 2023
Food Security Outlook Below-average incomes and harvests reduce food access in deficit areas Zimbabwe June 2023 - January 2024
Key Message Update Further depreciation of ZWL negatively impacts household purchasing power Zimbabwe May 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe August 2023
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe July 2023
Price Bulletin Zimbabwe Price Bulletin Zimbabwe June 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Classification Data View all Zimbabwe classification data
Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification (August 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (August 2023 - September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile August 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification August 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification (July 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (July 2023 - September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile July 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification July 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: July 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: July 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification (June 2023 - January 2024)

Current (June 2023) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (June 2023 - September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile June 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification June 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: June 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: June 2023 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.
Zimbabwe Seasonal Calendar
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Wheat, Normal Year Maize, Normal Year
Remote Sensing Imagery Remote Sensing Imagery

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all remotely sensed imagery
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Zimbabwe Livelihood Baseline Narrative - 2011 Zimbabwe Livelihood Baseline Synthesis Report - 2011 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Profiles, December 2010 Zimbabwe Livelihood Zones Map
Zimbabwe 2011 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
Get the latest food security updates in your inbox Sign up for emails

The information provided on this Website is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.