TANZANIA (2 June)
Preliminary forecasts of the 2002/03 food crop production indicate a 10 percent decline compared to last year mainly due to extended dry weather in eastern, central and southern parts between February and mid-March. Many areas experienced more than three weeks of dryness at a critical stage in crop development. Improved rainfall from around mid-March may have come too late to prevent significant yield losses. Such a decline in production is expected in spite of a reported large increase in cultivated area of most food crops (up by 39 percent over last year) mainly in response to last year’s higher prices.
The overall national food situation, however, remains stable despite recently observed increases in staple prices that are unusual for the time of the year. In some areas livestock prices were also reported to be falling despite adequate availability of water and forage. Staple prices are expected to ease soon as current harvests start to reach markets.