ZIMBABWE* (28 July)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in May estimated the 2003 cereal production at 1 million tonnes, including forecast for the winter wheat and barley crops. At this level production is 41 percent higher than the poor level of last year but still well below average. Cereal import requirement for 2003/04 are estimated at 1.287 million tonnes, of which maize accounts for 980 000 tonnes. Given the acute shortage of foreign exchange, 610 000 tonnes need to be met through food aid for an estimated number of 4.4 million people in rural areas and 1.1 million in urban.
The Government controlled price of maize meal has been raised almost four-fold in late May. This will greatly limit access to available supplies for the most vulnerable population.