FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.45
| Area: | 784 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid |
| Population: | 18.19 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$210 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; exposed to tropical storms and cyclones |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated rail and road transport fleet; lack of fuel and spares; poor roads; substantial Deliveries by coastal vessels |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 53 percent |
Excessive rains in the first week of November in southern parts, which resulted in localized floods have been followed by well below-average precipitation until the end of the month which has delayed planting of the 2003 cereal crops. Expectations of an increase in the area planted in response to high level of prices and adequate input availability could not materialize if more rains are not received soon.
The overall food supply situation remains stable following the good cereal harvest of 2002 that resulted in exportable surpluses in northern parts. Prices of maize which have increased sharply since August, stabilized in October. However, in the capital Maputo they are above their level of a year ago. The increase in prices reflects steady internal demand and substantial exports to deficit neighbouring countries.
The food situation remains difficult in southern provinces and parts of the central and northern provinces, where cereal production declined by 34 percent from the reduced level of the previous year, and 590 000 people are estimated to be in need of relief assistance. Emergency food aid requirement for the period September 2002-March 2003 are estimated at 49 000 tonnes. Food aid in WFP pipeline is adequate to cover requirements until February. However, distributions have been delayed because low capacity of implementing partners.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 175 | 1 463 | 1 640 |
| Previous five years average imports | 201 | 123 | 113 | 437 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | - | 109 | 1 626 | 1 735 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 164 | 1 606 | 1 770 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 109 | 1 606 | 1 715 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 260 | 371 | 1 746 | 2 377 |
| Food use | 255 | 341 | 1 273 | 1 869 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 30 | 273 | 308 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 260 | 262 | 120 | 642 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 260 | 262 | 70 | 592 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 35 | 7 | 63 | 105 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 63 | 63 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 14 | 19 | 70 | 103 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 108 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 147 |