MOZAMBIQUE (28 July)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in May 2003 estimated the 2003 cereal production at 1.8 million tonnes, some 3 percent above the good harvest of last year.
However, in southern and some of central provinces prolonged dry spells and high temperatures caused almost total failure of the main maize crop. As a result some 949 000 people face acute food shortages in marketing year 2003/04 and are in need of 156 000 tonnes of emergency food assistance. The affected population represents 30 percent of the total population in the affected districts but only 5 percent of the country’s total population. A part of the food aid requirements could be procured locally in view of maize surplus in northern and central areas but, because high internal transport cost to southern parts, large amounts will need to be imported. Prices of maize that declined in northern and central markets since February have increased in July, but they remained below the levels in southern markets.