FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.1 - April 2004 p.34

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  LESOTHO

The revised 2003 cereal production is estimated at 98 000 tonnes, about 81 percent above the poor level of the previous year but about 23 percent below average. Despite the improved production the country needs to import 245 000 tonnes (or 71 percent of its total requirements) of cereals to cover domestic consumption requirements, including 22 000 tonnes of food aid for vulnerable groups who experienced crop failure.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2003/04 MARKETING YEAR (April/March)
 WheatRiceCoarse GrainsTotal Cereals
 [thousand tonnes]
Previous year production (incl. paddy rice)14-4054
Previous five years average production (incl. paddy rice)20-107127
Previous year imports6710177254
Previous five years average imports617164232
2003/04 Domestic Availability24-77101
2003 Production (incl. paddy rice)24-7498
2003 Production (incl. milled rice)24-7498
Possible stock drawdown--33
2003/04 Utilization8910247346
Food use8610243339
Non-food use2-46
Exports or re-exports----
Possible stock build up2--2
2003/04 Import Requirement6510170245
Anticipated commercial imports658150223
of which: received or contracted58-99157
Food aid needs-22022
Current Aid Position    
Food aid pledges-21517
of which: delivered-21517
Donor-financed purchases--1313
of which: for local use--1313
for export----
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)385109151
Indexes[percentage]
2003 Production compared to average (incl. paddy rice)122-6977
2003/04 Import requirement compared to average107143104106
Cereal share of total calorie intake   78
Additional Information    
Major foodcropsmaize; sorghum; vegetables
Lean seasonFebruary-April
Population (000s)2 237   
GNI per capita in 2002 (US$)470   

FAO/GIEWS - April 2004

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