FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.38
| Area: | 30 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Highland rainy climate with mild winter. Rainy season: Oct.-April. Cool temperatures in May-September with frost hazard |
| Population: | 2.21 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$550 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked |
| Logistics: | All imports through South Africa |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, sorghum, vegetables |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 75 percent |
Planting of the 2003 cereal crops is underway. Abundant rains in the third dekad of October and normal precipitation in the first two dekads of November benefited planting operations and development of early sown crops. However prospects have deteriorated with dry weather in the main western growing areas in the third dekad of November. Shortage of agricultural inputs has also constrained planting operations.
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. Prices of cereals are on the increase at the same time as half of the rural households are running out of cereal stocks.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 24 | - | 133 | 157 |
| Previous five years average imports | 57 | 4 | 157 | 218 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 27 | - | 47 | 74 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 14 | - | 40 | 54 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 14 | - | 40 | 54 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 13 | - | 7 | 20 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 94 | 3 | 318 | 415 |
| Food use | 93 | 3 | 316 | 412 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Non-food use | 1 | - | 2 | 3 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 66 | - | 272 | 338 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 66 | - | 125 | 191 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 147 | 147 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 15 | - | 23 | 38 |
| of which: delivered | 15 | - | 23 | 38 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 42 | 1 | 143 | 186 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 34 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 155 |