Rainfall performance for the 2024/2025 agricultural season has been mixed; the southern parts of the country received above-average rains while the north received average to below-average rainfall. Harvesting of the 2025 cereal crops, mainly maize, is expected to commence in May and according to SADC and FAO reports, “maize production is expected to remain 10–15% below national requirements due to poor rainfall distribution and prolonged dry spells, particularly affecting smallholder farmers” (
WFP (Food Security and Markets Monitoring Report, March 2025)).