FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO ANGOLA

19 June 2001

Mission Highlights 1. OVERVIEW 2. BACKGROUND AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTING 3. FOOD PRODUCTION IN 2000/2001 3.1 Cropping patterns 3.2 Rainfall 3.3 Input supplies 3.4 Area planted 3.5 Crop yields 3.6 Crop production forecast 2000/01 3.7 Livestock 4. SITUATION BY REGION AND PROVINCE 4.1 Northern Region 4.2 Central Region 4.3 Southern Region 5. FOOD SUPPLY SITUATION 5.1 Access to food and prices 5.2 Cereal supply/demand balance, 2001/2002 6. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENT

Mission Highlights

1. OVERVIEW

An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Angola from 5-27 May 2001 to estimate crop production from the 2000/01 season, as well as the cereal import requirements and food aid needs in the 2001/02 marketing year (April/March). Following briefings by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) and Ministry of Social Assistance and Reintegration (MINARS), the Mission made field visits to 8 out of the 18 provinces, accompanied by officials from MINADER and observers from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Detailed planning of the Mission, preparatory documents and other background information were provided by the FAO-supported Food Security Unit in MINADER, the Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) Unit of the WFP Office in Angola, and WFP sub-offices in the provinces. Plans had been made to visit 10 provinces, but the security situation was very fluid and they had to be changed at the last minute. Finally, a de-briefing meeting was held at MINADER to present the findings of the Mission.

The security situation has somewhat improved, as the Government has military control of all provincial and most municipal centres, with an expansion of the secure areas around the provincial capitals. However, UNITA is still mounting guerrilla attacks in many areas and thereby restricting areas where Government, aid agencies and NGOs can operate to the areas immediately surrounding the administrative centres. Most food aid and essential commodities have still to be transported by air from Luanda. Insecurity and poor conditions of roads continue to disrupt marketing activities. Although very few IDPs have been able to return to their original homes, there has been good progress in allocating land to them within the secure areas. Some 218 000 IDPs and returnees have been recorded as being active in farming during the 2000/01 season. New IDPs are still arriving and the current estimate of IDP numbers is reported to be 2.7 million compared with 2.6 million last year. About 1.34 million people are still in need of food aid.

The area planted to coarse grains in the 2000/01 season is estimated at 995 000 hectares, an increase of 13 percent from 1999/00. Output is estimated at 577 000 tonnes, against 500 000 tonnes last season. The increase in production is largely attributed to higher sowings, as a result of improved security conditions at planting time; allocation of land to IDPs and natural increase of population as well as improved agricultural input distribution. In spite of a severe mid-season dry spell in northern areas, weather conditions were generally favourable in the main cereal growing areas of the centre and south. Maize harvest is estimated at 429 000 tonnes, 9 percent above last year's level, with larger plantings partially offset by crop losses in the northern provinces. Millet and sorghum combined estimate, at 148 000 tonnes, is up by nearly 30 percent. This reflects a sharp increase in the area planted and the effect of good rains in the south. The bean crop is estimated at 70 000 tonnes, down 10 percent from last year, also as a result of dry spells in the north. Cassava estimate for 2000/01 is 5.3 million tonnes compared to 4.4 million tonnes in the previous year, due to higher plantings and yields.

The overall food supply position is expected to improve in marketing year 2001/02 (April/March) reflecting the improved foodcrops production. Prices of maize are stable or declining with the arrival of the new crop into the markets. However, as a result of the disruption of trade activities, there are large price differentials among markets. Despite the better production this year and the reduction in numbers of IDPs requiring assistance, there are still 1.34 million IDPs in need of emergency food aid in 2001/02. While the food situation of these populations remains extremely serious, food aid distributions continue to be constrained by insecurity and poor road conditions.

The food deficit in marketing year 2001/02 is estimated lower than in the previous year at 581 000 tonnes of cereals. This includes 48 000 tonnes of maize, 107 000 tonnes of rice and 250 000 tonnes of wheat. Commercial imports are forecast at 405 000 tonnes of cereals, leaving 176 000 tonnes to be covered by food aid. Against this requirement, pledges and food aid in stocks until the end of May amounted to 33 000 tonnes.

2. BACKGROUND AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTING ¹

Angola has a total area of 1.247 million square kilometres and an estimated population of 13.7 million. The country is endowed with substantial natural resources, including extensive reserves of oil and gas, valuable minerals, particularly diamonds, and an important hydroelectric capacity from numerous rivers. It has a vast agricultural potential with fertile soils in the northern region and the central highlands, where normal rainfall exceed 1000 millimetres. Livestock is predominant in the southern region, which receives lower rainfall, and is also less populated than the other regions. The country enjoys vast marine and river resources, particularly fisheries as well as an extensive forestry sector.

However, the Angolan society in general has so far gained little benefit from these resources, having a very high and increasing percentage of its population living below the poverty line, particularly in urban areas. The wealth is concentrated within 10 percent of the population whose income has increased by 43 percent between 1995 and 1998, unlike that of the rest. The civil war that began after independence in 1975 continues to affect wide areas of the country. Besides this major factor, loose and inappropriate monetary and fiscal policies have contributed to social and economic instability, with inflation reaching a year-end rate of 268 percent in 2000.

Under a self-monitored programme with the IMF, the Government of Angola is committed to wide ranging reforms aimed at promoting macroeconomic stabilisation and fiscal transparency, reducing poverty and ending the state interventions in the market that cause economic distortions and inefficiencies. Main reforms would include modernisation of the country's tax system and customs service, reinvigoration of the Government accounts tribunal and privatisation of several state-owned companies. So far the implementation of the programme is very uneven with poor monetary and fiscal controls being enforced. However, the Government is improving the transparency in state affairs, in particular by co-operating with a diagnostic study of the oil sector as agreed with the IMF.

Real GDP has grown during the last five years though the rate of growth declined steadily between 1996 and 1999 from 11.7 percent to 2.7 percent. It, however, recovered in 2000 to 4.9 percent. Total oil production is not expected to change in 2001 so it is expected that the rate of real GDP growth will be just over 2 percent. This oil driven growth is capital intensive and import dependent with few linkages to other sectors of the economy or effects on employment. On the other hand, in spite of its relative minor contribution to GDP (less than 7 percent) compared to oil (61 percent) and mining (9 percent), the agriculture sector has a great potential for providing employment to most rural population and in securing food supplies.

Prior to independence in 1975 food production was abundant and the country was a major exporter of maize and coffee. Cassava is the main food staple in the north/north-east and maize in the central highlands, while millet and sorghum are the most important crops in the dry southern region. Livestock are of great significance in Angola, with more than 3 million heads of cattle. Because of the war situation, the country has for the past several years relied on food imports -both commercial imports of wheat and rice, and food aid in maize and beans- to meet domestic requirements. In most of the conflict areas agriculture has fallen to an almost subsistence level, with little or no marketable surplus and very limited trade activity.

The Government and NGOs are making a great effort to provide the displaced rural population with enough land and inputs. Even if self-sufficiency is not often attained amongst displaced populations, due to the lack of access to sufficient agriculture land and timely agricultural inputs, some 218 000 IDPs -out of a total 2.7 million- have been resettled.

3. FOOD PRODUCTION IN 2000/2001

3.1 Cropping patterns

The estimated proportion of land under the major food crops, maize, millet/sorghum and cassava, in each of the regions is: 10 percent, less than 1 percent and 59 percent respectively in the north; 50 percent, 8 percent and 11 percent in central parts; 35 percent, 42 percent and 6 percent in southern areas. However, variations between individual provinces within each region can be significant for some crops and this has been taken into account in the crop area estimates. Maize production is concentrated in a few provinces in the centre of the country, with three provinces (Huambo, Benguela and Bie) accounting for at least 40 percent of total production.

Although the Mission was able to visit only 8 of the 18 provinces, it covered the three main agricultural zones. The Mission visited Malanje and Lunda Sul in the north and Moxico in the northeast, where the main food crop is cassava. In the central region, the main maize growing area, the Mission visited Bie, Huambo and Benguela. In the south, where sorghum and millet predominate and livestock is important, Huila and Kunene were visited.

Other important crops include beans, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, rice and Irish potatoes. Cowpeas may be included in bean plantings. Mixed cropping is the norm and it is usual to find maize and beans growing with groundnuts, cassava and sweet potatoes. Maize is not always consumed as processed grain, especially in much of the cassava dominated northern provinces where it is traditionally eaten green. In the south, a major part of the sorghum crop grown is used for making beer and non-alcoholic drinks.

Vegetable production (tomatoes, onions, cabbage, peppers, carrots, pumpkin) is important, particularly in low-lying areas (nakas) where water for irrigation can be found during the dry season. Important green foods include cassava leaves, pumpkin leaves, hibiscus leaves and amaranthus leaves, which may also be dried for storage or marketed. Bananas, mangoes, pineapple, citrus fruits, passion fruit, tobacco and sugarcane are all grown as food and cash crops.

3.2 Rainfall

Rainfall in Angola ranges from as little as 20 mm on the south-west coast up to as much as 2000 mm in parts of the north-east, with the major crop producing areas of central Angola receiving around 1200- 1400 mm. There are two rainy seasons in the North and Centre regions: September-December and February-April. In the south, however, there is only one season starting from October. In the 2000/01 season, accumulated rainfall has been overall satisfactory but poorly distributed.

In the North, the rainy season started about a month late, so that most crops were planted in October/November instead of September/October. Crops, particularly maize and beans, were then too immature to survive a subsequent dry spell in December/January. Even cassava failed to establish with the first rains. Heavy rains during March/April allowed late cassava planting and when the Mission visited the northern provinces in May farmers were still planting, relying on dew to keep the cassava cuttings alive through the dry season.

In the Central Provinces, there was a slight delay in the beginning of the rainy season. Precipitation was generally erratic and below normal in October and November. However, the situation improved from December when abundant and well-distributed rains were received.

Most southern provinces did not receive enough rain to start planting until the end of October. However, sowing in these areas is later than in the rest of the country, going until December, so that no reductions in the area planted were experienced. Rains from November were good, benefiting crop establishment and development. Excessive precipitation in March and April, however, caused localized flooding and crop damage.

3.3 Input supplies

The supply of seeds, tools and fertilisers to farmers and IDPs was a major and generally very successful exercise in the 2000/01 cropping season, involving 27 NGOs. More seeds, tools and fertilisers were supplied by the Government through the National Programme for Emergency and Humanitarian Assistance (PNEAH).

The main seed types distributed were maize (2 926 metric tonnes), beans (752 metric tonnes), cowpeas (319 metric tonnes), millet (313 metric tonnes), sorghum (464 metric tonnes) and groundnuts (695 metric tonnes), totalling 5 472 tonnes. In addition, 5.4 million cassava cuttings and approximately 700 kg of vegetable seeds were also distributed. Input distributions included also 426 307 hoes, 151 179 machetes, 99 305 axes and 1 539 tonnes of fertilizers.

By the end of December 2000 a total of 294 880 families had been assisted by NGOs, including 83 200 non-resettled IDP families.

The total quantities of seeds distributed by the Government and NGOs for the 2000/01 cropping season were substantially higher than those distributed in the previous year, when logistic difficulties also resulted in delayed distributions.

3.4 Area planted

The total area planted in the 2000/01 season is estimated at 2.2 million hectares, compared with 1.7 million hectares in 1999/00. This significant expansion is due to a number of factors, in particular the improved security situation and better access to land, the resettlement of IDPs, the greatly enhanced supply of seeds and tools, and the natural increase in population. With the improvement in the security situation last year, the Government expanded its programme to resettle IDPs on land within the secure areas of each province for the season 2000/01. Table 1 shows the total area cultivated by resident farming families and IDPs as at 31 December 2000. The national average area cultivated by 431 854 IDPs is 0.58 hectares per family, against 1.54 hectares for resident farmers. Virtually every IDP family, resettled or not, is likely to be cultivating some patch of land, even if it is just the land around their huts. However, it does appear that in some provinces the actual resettled areas might be less than the official figures. In view of the lack of verifiable information to the contrary, the original reported area has been used in these estimates.

Improved security at planting time also meant an expansion of areas and better cultivation by those IDPs who had already a limited access to their lands (fields around the towns).

As mentioned above, the large distributions of agricultural inputs to IDPs and settled farmers by the Government and NGOs was another important factor for the increase in the area planted this season.

Plantings of maize in the 2000/01 season are estimated at 755 261 hectares, an increase of 10 percent from 1999/00. The area planted to sorghum and millet increased by 21 percent to 239 520 hectares, while that of cassava is estimated to be 4 percent larger at 558 000 hectares. Tables 2 and 3 give the details by province.

Table 1. Area Under Cultivation in 2000/01

3.5 Crop yields

The crops of maize, beans and groundnuts that were planted in the northern provinces of Malanje, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Kuanza Sul and Moxico in central parts, were severely affected by a prolonged dry spell in December/January. Although replanting took place in several areas, yields were in general sharply reduced by the dry weather. Yields of beans were also adversely affected. By contrast, in the main grain growing provinces of Huambo (centre) and Huila (south), maize and millet yield estimates are up on last year in view of the particularly good rainfall conditions. In the other important maize growing province of Benguela (centre) yields are lower than last year reflecting the effect of the flooding which damaged large areas of the crop. The delayed start of the rains in the southern provinces of Kunene and Kuando Kubango did not have negative effects on the area planted and the subsequent good precipitation benefited crop development. Yields of grains in the south are around the level of the previous year, despite localized flood damage in March/April.

Provincial variations and the effects of mid-season dry spell and flooding have been taken into account in the yield calculations shown in Table 2 and 3. Overall, average yields are estimated at 0.57 tonne/hectare for maize, virtually unchanged from last year; 0.62 tonne/hectare for millet and sorghum, against 0.53 tonne/hectare last season; and 0.3 tonne/hectare for beans, below last year's level of 0.4 tonne/hectare.

Cassava crop, most resistant to dry weather was not affected by the dry spell in the main growing northern areas.

3.6 Crop production forecast 2000/01

The maize harvest for the 2000/01 season is estimated at 429 000 tonnes, 9 percent higher than last year. An increase of 12 percent in the area planted was partially offset by crop losses in northern provinces. Millet and sorghum, estimated at 148 000 tonnes, are up by 40 percent reflecting a sharp increase in the area planted and the effect of good rains in the south. In aggregate, coarse grain production increased 15 percent to 577 000 tonnes, which is above the average of the past five years. The bean crop is estimated at 71 000 tonnes, down by 10 percent on last year, also as a result of dry spells in the north. Cassava production for 2000/01 is estimated at 5.3 million tonnes compared with 4.4 million tonnes in the previous year, due to higher planting and yields.

Production of groundnuts and sweet potatoes is shown in Table 3. The sharp increase in the outputs mainly reflects the substantial increases in the area planted.

Table 2. Areas, Yields and Production of Main Cereal Crops in 2000/01

Source: MINADER Food Security Unit (Gabinete de Seguranca Alimentar - (GSA), with maize yield adjustments by mission to allow for crop failures as a result of drought and flooding in some provinces.

Table 3. Areas, Yields and Production of Other Main Crops 2000/01

Sources: MINADER Food Security Unit (Gabinete de Seguranca Alimentar - (GSA), with yield adjustments by mission (italics) to allow for crop failures as a result of drought and flooding in some provinces and for more realistic cassava yields.

Table 4 and Figure 1 show the trend in cereal production from 1993/94 to 1999/2000 and the forecast for 2000/01. Although production has fluctuated markedly, the figure indicates a rising trend.

Table 4. Production of Coarse Grains from 1993/94 to 2000/01 (`000 tonnes)

3.7 Livestock

The livestock industry has been decimated in the main areas of conflict, apart from backyard chickens, pigs and goats, but the Mission observed a healthy cattle population in Kunene in the south. Hunting, fishing and the gathering of caterpillars and other bush products provide alternative sources of animal protein, as well as being marketable and important coping mechanisms. Following the abundant rains of this season in the south, pastures and livestock conditions were generally good.

4. SITUATION BY REGION AND PROVINCE

There are 18 provinces in Angola and this year security considerations restricted the field visit programme of the Mission to only 8 of them. The provinces visited were Malanje, Lunda Sul, Bie, Huambo, Benguela, Moxico, Kunene and Huila. The Food Security Unit of MINADER, WFP/VAM and the offices of NGOs, which have projects in the provinces, provided information on the situation in other provinces.

4.1 Northern Region

The northern region is comprised of nine provinces and is the main cassava producing area of Angola. Rainfall was poorly distributed and a widespread drought affected most of the region and influenced significantly the yields of the crops in the first planting season. Despite the improvement in the security situation last year, a number of important insecurity incidents have occurred in the region as a whole. In fact, two of the provinces the Mission intended to visit had to be omitted because of attacks in May.

Cabinda

Some 24 000 farming families are estimated to be active in Cabinda this season and they are expected to be cultivating around 31 000 hectares. Cassava is the main staple and production of 175 000 tonnes is forecast. Groundnuts are an important cash crop. There is no security problem with UNITA in Cabinda and the actions of the separation movement (FLEC) do not seem to have adversely affected agricultural activities.

Zaire

In 2000/01 Zaire province had 47 000 families in agriculture, cultivating 47 000 hectares. Cassava is also the main food crop here and production is forecast at 324 000 tonnes. Secure areas tend to be near to the coast.

Uige

Uige has an estimated 171 000 farming families with 237 000 hectares under cultivation. Cassava is the main staple and production is forecast at 1.7 million tonnes for 2001. Maize and groundnuts are also important and 8 000 tonnes is the estimated production for maize with 3 000 tonnes for groundnuts. Bananas and sweet potatoes are also important. Rainfall was reported to have been poorly distributed and below normal in total. Most municipalities are still unsafe and there is a continuing flow of IDPs to safer areas.

Bengo

Around 40 000 families are engaged in agriculture, with 42 000 hectares of land. Production levels of 4 000 tonnes of maize and 233 000 tonnes of cassava are forecast. Sweet potatoes, beans and vegetables are also important. There are a number of commercial farms in operation and irrigation is quite extensive. NGOs distributed hand tools and seed of maize, beans and groundnut. The mission was expected to visit Bengo but a UNITA attack on the town of Caxito, which resulted in many casualties occurred early in May and the field visit was cancelled. Previously there had been substantial inflows of new IDPs to Caxito from Nambuangongo.

Luanda

The capital city province is not a major agricultural area but 8 500 families are in farming and are estimated to cultivate 9 500 hectares of land. Annual rainfall is normally low in this area and irrigation is important. The number of commercial farmers is significant. The season was normal and the forecast production for 2000/01 is just under 1000 tonnes of maize, 800 tonnes of beans and 48 000 tonnes of cassava. There was no seed or tools distribution in the province.

Kuanza Norte

The farming population numbers 68 000 families, cultivating 84 000 hectares. Forecast production of the main crops is 3 000 tonnes of maize, 2 000 tonnes of beans and 482 000 tonnes of cassava. The second planting season was better than the first one due to better rains. Since December, a number of security incidents have affected Ndalatando, the Provincial capital and the municipalities northwest of the Province. The security situation has since deteriorated more seriously with a UNITA attack on 21^st May on a municipality only 50 km from the provincial capital. Several NGO's were active in the area and WVI reported 10 of its personnel missing after the action.

Malanje

Around 138 000 families are estimated to be farming on 163 000 hectares of land. The staple crop of cassava is forecast to produce 946 000 tonnes this year. Ten IDP resettlement camps have been established within the secure zone around the town of Malanje but the average size of plots is only 0.15 has per family, apparently due to a combination of difficulty in obtaining enough suitable land from local residents, and shortages of seed and cuttings, particularly cassava cuttings. The rainy season started late in October instead of September and was poorly distributed. WVI is carrying out an impressive range of trials and seed/cuttings multiplication on traditional crops as well as sesame and sunflower, with varieties from various SADC countries. Shortage of firewood and damage to the environment is a major problem. In addition to local tree species, 4 000 hectares of eucalyptus forest around Malanje are said to have been destroyed for firewood and charcoal.

Lunda Norte

Around 58 000 families are estimated to be growing crops this year on 43 000 hectares of land. Reports suggest that the first planted crops of maize, beans and groundnuts were affected by the mid-season drought, but the cassava planting is likely to produce 263 000 tonnes later in the year.

Lunda Sul

Lunda Sul is affected by the diamond mining business, which attracts young men off the land. 44 000 farming families are estimated to be cultivating 41 000 hectares of land. As in Malanje and Lunda Norte the early plantings succumbed to drought but the cassava crop was looking promising at the time of the visit and is forecast at 243 000 tonnes.

4.2 Central Region

The central region includes five provinces and is the main maize producing area of Angola. About 60 percent of the 2000/2001 cereal production in the country is expected from this region. Rainfall was good overall, although excessive rains late in the season caused flooding, particularly in Benguela Province. The security situation has shown significant improvement in the region with substantial traffic of people and goods within the region and, to some extent, towards the southern region.

Kuanza Sul

The number of families in farming here is estimated to be 98 000, cultivating 146 000 hectares. As with the northern provinces the first planted crops were a virtual write-off because of the drought, but the problem was also compounded by excessive rains and flooding which finished off the little that has survived. Cassava planting in the second rains was considerable and 208 000 tonnes of cassava is the forecast production for the year. According to Africare, resettled IDPs were allocated 0.5 hectare of land per family. Apart form Sumbe, the provincial capital, the only safe municipalities are Seles, Porto Amboin and Conda. Coping mechanisms in the littoral include firewood collection, charcoal making, hunting, fishing, casual labour and collection and selling of stones for construction.

Benguela

Around 165 000 farming families are estimated to be cultivating 207 000 hectares of land this season. Maize crops looked good, in spite of some flood losses and the forecast production is 64 500 tonnes, with millet/sorghum at 18 500 tonnes and cassava at 43 400 tonnes. Following security improvement the traffic from Lobito or Benguela to Bie Province was re-opened. Cubal and Ganda municipalities are connected through military convoys. More agricultural hand tools, seeds and fertilizers were distributed than last year although there were delays in distribution. Land allocated to IDPs in the irrigated perimeter in the littoral was on average 0.25 hectare per family, while in the interior ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 hectare per family.

The population is increasingly growing more sorghum, as this crop is more tolerant to drought. Both in the littoral and interior zones, there are ongoing programmes of rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation schemes.

Huambo

The number of families in agriculture is estimated to be 273 000 cultivating 419 000 hectares of land. Rainfall was good and crop production is estimated to be better than in previous years at 155 000 tonnes of maize, 25 000 tonnes of millet/sorghum, 20 000 tonnes of beans and 109 000 tonnes of cassava. The security situation has improved and currently five municipalities (Huambo, Caala, Longonjo, Ukuma and Ekunhas) are being directly covered by humanitarian activities and there is a plan to start activities in Bailundo. There were significant improvements in terms of timeliness, suitability and quantities in the distribution of agricultural hand tools, seed and fertilizers and the planted area of sorghum, as a drought tolerant crop, was increased in the Province, particularly in the southern zone. The Mission saw small areas of wheat and CONCERN reported that it is involved in the introduction of soybean. Beans yields were affected by aphids (30-35percent-yield reduction). There is also an increase in the areas of sweet potato.

Bie

The estimated number of farmers in Bie is 170 000 and their land area is 200 000 hectares. A maize output of 49 000 tonnes is predicted, plus 12 800 tonnes of beans, 1 800 tonnes of groundnuts and 182 500 tonnes of cassava. The safety perimeter around Bie has expanded and the number of IDPs has increased in Kuito Municipality because of access to humanitarian assistance. The malnutrition situation in Kuito is said to be very bad with constant arrivals of new IDPs, who are often in very poor condition. 5 children and 3 adults are reported to be dying every day from malnutrition (Africare). Rains were better compared to last year, although they started late. Land distribution to IDPs has improved; 0.5 hectares per IDP family was allocated in Kuito. It was reported that some IDPs have planted part of the seeds distributed by NGO's (for instance, CARE) in the municipalities they came from and, alternatively, in land they got on their own elsewhere in Kuito surroundings. In overall terms, a better harvest compared to last year is expected in the Province.

Moxico

Moxico has an estimated 69 000 farmers and 73 500 hectares of land. No maize was seen by the Mission, having apparently died from drought or been destroyed by excessively heavy late rains. Rainfall was good in total but poorly distributed. The same happened to the beans and groundnuts, but cassava plantings were extensive and cassava is traditionally the main staple food crop of the province. Production is forecast at 211 000 tonnes for harvest in 2001. Access is very difficult because of the high security risk but, at least in the capital Luena, land allocation and input supply were better compared to last year.

4.3 Southern Region

The region is comprised of four provinces and is the main millet and sorghum producing area. This is the driest area of Angola. Rainfall in 2000/2001 started late but was then abundant. In the main producing province of Huila the intensity and frequency of the precipitation were favourable to crop development. Elsewhere, rains were excessive in December and January, resulting in localized floodings, mainly in Namibe and Kunene Provinces. Most of the Angola cattle population is found in the southern region so the abundant rains benefited also pastures and livestock conditions. Compared to other areas of the country, this region has a better security situation and a higher traffic of people and goods was reported within the region and to some extent towards the central region.

Namibe

Namibe is largely arid and only 12 400 farmers are estimated to be cultivating 14 000 hectares. The forecast production for 2000/01 is 3 600 tonnes of maize and 1 600 tonnes of millet/sorghum. Flooding in March/April caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, affecting 6 000 families and in Bibala municipality 75 percent of crops planted in January were lost. Destruction of three road bridges and railway bridges due to excessive rains in April hampered the connections by road with Huila and Benguela Provinces and by railway with Huila Province. Instability in neighbouring municipalities of Benguela and Huila Provinces had a negative effect in Namibe Province and led to inflow of IDPs into the Provincial capital and Camacuio municipality. Coping mechanisms include firewood collection, charcoal making, fishing, selling of fish, casual labour ("ganho"or "biscato") and cattle rearing for the larger owners.

Huila

145 000 farming families with 226 000 hectares under cultivation are expected to produce 74 000 tonnes of maize, 54 200 tonnes of millet/sorghum and 72 000 tonnes of cassava. Flooding in March/April caused damage to homes and infrastructure but crops do not appear to have been seriously affected.

Kunene

Kunene's 49 000 farmers with 73 000 hectares of land are estimated to produce 26 000 tonnes of millet/sorghum and 5 200 tonnes of maize form the 2000/01 season. The security situation is quite good with free movement to most municipalities. Crops of millet and sorghum inspected by the Mission looked good and normal yields are expected. Cattle were plentiful and in good condition - grass growth has been prolific as a result of heavy rain although flooding in March/April caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.

Kuando Kubango

There are 64 000 farming families estimated for Kuando Kubango, with 48 000 hectares. Production forecasts are for 12 500 tonnes of millet/sorghum, 9 000 tonnes of maize and 14 000 tonnes of cassava. The security situation is said to have improved and the population is able to circulate within a 15 -20 km radius of the municipal centres, except in areas where there is a danger of mines, like Macusso. Some IDPs are reported to have made visits back to their home areas, up to 70 km away. The population is coping and malnutrition or mortality rates are not alarming. Coping mechanisms include collection of wild fruits, fishing, selling firewood, making cane mats and alcoholic drinks for sale, and casual labour in Namibia. The main crops are usually maize, millet and sorghum but due to a very late start to the rains (February) maize production this year will be extremely poor. Seeds were distributed to 7 260 families of IDPs. Some IDPs brought cattle with them, but many were lost or abandoned. Curdled milk (mahini) is an important food for those that have cattle.

5. FOOD SUPPLY SITUATION

5.1 Access to food and prices

Food supply and access in Angola varies very much from one part of the country to another, depending on the security and infrastructure conditions for farming and trading products. Widespread insecurity and poor conditions of roads and other rural infrastructure have adversely affected production, caused market disruption and hindered food commodity trade between surplus and deficit areas. That is the case of Luena the capital city of Moxico province, visited by the Mission, which is connected to the rest of the country only by air. There is no record of significant overland trade between Luena and the province's other towns or the countryside, with the exception of very limited small-scale transactions of agricultural products and other consumer goods by bicycle. Nor is there information on local trade beyond the secured areas. A similar situation was observed in Kuito Province of Bie, where trade and other commercial activity with the coastal and southern trading points have been severely restricted. It was reported that some quantities of local maize are being purchased in Kuito and transported on return trips to be sold in Huambo and Lubango.

By contrast, the southern-western provinces remain relatively calm and the markets operate reasonably well. The Mission had the opportunity to visit Huila and Kunene and to interview producers and traders. There existed a relatively well functioning trade circuit, with stocks of maize and sorghum being moved from Kunene and Huila to the cities of Benguela and Namibe to supply mills and consumer markets. The WFP is currently purchasing locally 3 000 tonnes of maize for targeted distribution in the same area. Also, there is a relatively active livestock market for supplying the local market and Luanda. Producer maize prices in the local market reflect the relative normal environment.

As a consequence of the mentioned trade restrictions and market distortions there exist important price differentials of food products among provinces and towns. Availability of maize from food aid in Luena, Saurimo and Kuito (all towns with security problems) help to meet requirements and maintain prices low as compared with Lubango market, for instance, where a relatively normal market activity still exists. The table below shows consumer prices in different markets, as recorded by the Mission.

Table 5. Market Prices in May 2001 (Kwanzas per kg)