BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 94 000 sq.km
Climate: Tropical wet-dry climate with one rainy season (November-May)
Population: 11.13 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 140 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country: Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country; importer and exporter of grain
Logistics: Imports/exports through Beira (Mozambique) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Major foodcrops: Maize, pulses, roots, tubers, rice
Marketing year: April/March; Lean season: February-March
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 70 percent
CURRENT SITUATION
Total cereal production in 1995/96 is estimated at 2 million tons, which is above average. Maize output is estimated at 1.9 million tons. This is much above average and very close to the 1993 record crop. As a result of favourable growing conditions which benefited most crops, significant increases in production are also expected for rice, sorghum and soybean.
The food supply situation in the country is expected to improve significantly during the marketing year 1996/97. The expected harvest will cover most of the consumption requirements, including the replenishment of stocks, leading to a substantial reduction in import needs. With markets adequately supplied, foodcrop prices have decreased substantially. Food aid pledges by donors currently amount to 51 000 tons and deliveries at the end of August totalled 6 000 tons.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 2 | 23 | 1 330 | 1 355 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 40 | 3 | 40 | 83 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | 40 | 40 |
| 1996 Production | 2 | 40 | 1 984 | 2 026 |
| 1996/97 Utilization | 47 | 40 | 2 034 | 2 121 |
| Food use | 47 | 39 | 1 704 | 1 790 |
| of which: Local purchase requirement | - | - | (8) | (8) |
| Non-food use | - | 1 | 175 | 176 |
| Possible stock build-up | - | - | 155 | 155 |
| 1996/97 Import Requirement | 45 | - | 50 | 95 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | - | - | 45 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 40 | - | 11 | 51 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Donor-financed local purchases | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 4 | 4 | 153 | 161 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1996 production as % of normal: | 150 | |||
| 1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: | 114 | |||
| 1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 125 | |||