FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - SWAZILAND (4 June)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited the country from 15 to 24 April 2002 and estimated domestic cereal supply in 2002/03 at 77 000 tonnes, against total national consumption requirement of 188 000 tonnes. This resulted in an import requirement of 111 000 tonnes. Commercial imports were estimated at 96 000 tonnes and food aid at 15 200 tonnes which will need to be covered by the Government and external assistance.
The mission also estimated that a total of 144 000 people in Lowveld, Middleveld and Lubombo Plateau will need food assistance. Overall, the Mission recommended targeted assistance of approximately 17 720 tonnes of food, including such commodities as maize, pulses, vegetable oil and iodised salt. Emergency provision of agricultural inputs such as seeds was also recommended to enable drought-affected farming families to restart agricultural production during the next main planting season starting in October 2002.