Farmers are taking stock in Cape Town . They are totaling losses in the face of the worst drought they have ever experienced. Rainfall in 1992 has been two the usual amount. In the low veld, where rains have been below normal since 1989, sugar production has come to a halt, turning Zimbabwe from a substantial exporter into a net importer. The production of maize, a staple crop, is about 90 percent less than normal. Soybeans, winter wheat and cotton production is a fraction of the usual totals. Only drought-resistant tobacco is at normal levels. Farm production for winter has decreased to the lowest level in winter . Zimbabwe needs 350 million dollars worth of imported food. Water shortages are having a serious effect on electric power production.
Farmers are taking stock in Cape Town . They are totaling losses in the face of the worst drought they have ever experienced. Rainfall in 1992 has been two the usual amount. The production of maize, a staple crop, is about 90 percent less than normal. Soybeans, winter wheat and cotton production is a fraction of the usual totals. Only drought-resistant tobacco is at normal levels. Farm production for winter has decreased to the lowest level in winter . Zimbabwe needs 350 million dollars worth of imported food. Water shortages are having a serious effect on electric power production.