Zimbabwe is usually self-sufficient in food production. Its main food crops are maize, soya beans, oil-seeds, fruit, vegetables and sugar. However, in mid-1999 the country experienced shortages of bread, maize meal and sugar as a result of price controls.
Livestock production is another important sector. Zimbabwe is one of Africa's leading beef producing nations making sales to the European Union (EU). However, the effects of a prolonged drought are encouraging farmers to switch to game farming where yields are greater. In June 1999, the EU offered to provide Zimbabwe with funds to implement measures to prevent the spread of cattle disease and increase beef exports.
