FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.15
| Area: | 1 247 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Coastal desert, south-west semi-arid, rest tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: Sept.-May |
| Population: | 14.90 million (2002 estimate), G.N.P. per caput US$500 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; infrastructure devastated by prolonged civil strife |
| Logistics: | Inadequate port, rail and road facilities |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize, plantains |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: January-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 35 percent |
Normal to above-normal rains in October and November maintained adequate soil moisture for planting of the 2003 coarse grain crops and benefited early sown crops, mainly maize in central areas.
The food situation of large numbers of displaced people gives serious cause for concern. Following the cease-fire agreement between the Government and UNITA forces in April this year, massive movements of people returning to their place of origin continue. The number of people in need of emergency food aid has been raised to 1.9 million from the 1.42 million estimated by the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in May 2002. Recent reports indicate that while malnutrition rates have declined with improved access to the needy population, they remain at high levels. Most of the areas to which the populations are returning have no basic health services. Despite the gradually improved accessibility to the provinces, poor road conditions, broken bridges and landmines continue to be a constraint to the expansion of relief assistance, as well as internal trade.
Against food aid requirements of 221 000 tonnes of cereals for 2002/03 (April/March) pledges by early December amounted to 149 000 tonnes of which 123 000 tonnes have already been received in the country.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 5 | 7 | 527 | 539 |
| Previous five years average imports | 277 | 104 | 166 | 547 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | - | 3 | 546 | 549 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 4 | 546 | 550 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 3 | 546 | 549 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 280 | 160 | 834 | 1 274 |
| Food use | 280 | 160 | 720 | 1 160 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Non-food use | - | - | 109 | 109 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 280 | 157 | 288 | 725 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 280 | 157 | 67 | 504 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 221 | 221 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 21 | - | 128 | 149 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 123 | 123 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 19 | 11 | 48 | 78 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 102 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 133 |