Weather & Science
Zimbabwe Says Scorching El Nino Pattern Is Withering Corn Crop
- Area planted with key staple declines in 2023-24 season
- Entire southern Africa region is gripped by dry weather
A field of failed corn crops in Glendale, Zimbabwe, on March 11.
Photographer: Cynthia R Matonhodze/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Zimbabwe warned that farmland planted with corn has shrunk by 12% because of scorching El Niño weather patterns, threatening the nation’s food staple and potentially triggering surging prices and social unrest.
“Panic purchases and grain hoarding by households and traders are expected, which will deplete the grain earlier than expected, even in areas with surplus production,” the Ministry of Agriculture said in its latest crop and livestock assessment report. “This will cause significant increases in cereal prices.”