Abundant rains in southern and central parts in the third dekad of October and first week of November benefited planting of the 2003 cereal crops, mainly maize.
The food supply situation remains tight as a result of two consecutive reduced harvests. Some 650 000 people are in need of 36 000 tonnes of cereals as food aid in the period September 2002-March 2003. The districts most affected are Mokhotlong, Qacha’s Nek, Quthing and Thaba Tseka. Food aid received in the country until the end of October amount to some 23 000 tonnes. Prices of cereals are on the increase at the same time as half of the rural households are running out of cereal stocks.