| Area: | 94 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry climate with one rainy season (November-May) |
| Population: | |
| 10.8 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 220 (1993) | |
| 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
Generally hot and dry conditions prevailed over much of the country in October and early November with very little rain received in the southern and central areas. Regular rainfall started in late November and early December with southern areas receiving substantial rains during December. The maize crop is at the vegetative stage in the south and emerging in the centre and the north. Input supply it reported to be adequate but high prices may have prevented many smallholder farmers from buying necessary inputs.
The national food supply situation for 1995/96 has eased following an above average cereal harvest of 1.66 million tons. The cereal import requirement for the 1995/96 marketing year is estimated at 180 000 tons, almost one-third of the import requirement of the previous year. This includes some 140 000 tons of food aid against which deliveries amount to 119 000 tons. Cereal stocks are reported to be rapidly depleting and most prices have been rising, especially those of maize and flour.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand 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 |
| 1995/96 Domestic availability | 3 | 31 | 1 648 | 1 682 |
| 1995 Production | 3 | 31 | 1 628 | 1 662 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 35 | 38 | 1 789 | 1 862 |
| Food use | 35 | 37 | 1 627 | 1 699 |
| Non-food use | - | 1 | 162 | 163 |
| 1995/96Import Requirement | 32 | 7 | 141 1/ | 180 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 32 | 5 | - | 37 |
| Food aid needs | - | 2 | 141 | 143 |
| of which: Emergency | - | - | 46 | 46 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 2 | 204 | 206 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 119 | 119 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| of which: for export | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| for local purchases | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 3 | 3 | 147 | 153 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 123 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 217 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 358 | |||
1/ Excludes 130 000 tons for Strategic Grain Reserve