| Area: | 784 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid |
| Population: | 15.53 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 80 (1993) |
| 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; disruption by guerrillas |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize |
| Marketing year: | May/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 53 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The seasonal rains commenced in October in the southern and central provinces, moving gradually to the centre during the second dekad of November. The maize crop is at the vegetative stage in these provinces and the general state of the crop is good. In northern areas, where the onset of the rainy season was in late November, some planting activity is underway. Seed supply appears to be slightly below normal compared to fertilizers and pesticides which are reported to be available in sufficient quantities.
Following the good 1994/95 cereal crop, the country’s import needs for 1995/96 have been considerably reduced and the overall food supply situation has improved significantly. Nevertheless Mozambique’s food aid requirement is estimated at some 360 000 tons for 1995/96. Pledge so far made fully cover the requirement, but 227 000 tons have been delivered.. An estimated 650 000 people currently require emergency food assistance. Transportation difficulties continue to hamper food relief programmes in rural areas.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 33 | 458 | 491 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 102 | 60 | 244 | 406 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 102 | 52 | 408 | 562 |
| 1995 Production | - | 76 | 1 012 | 1 088 |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 133 | 168 | 1 233 | 1 534 |
| Food use | 133 | 162 | 1 113 | 1 408 1/ |
| of which: local purchase requirements | - | - | (25) | (25) |
| Non-food use | - | 6 | 120 | 126 |
| 1995/96 Import Requirement | 133 | 92 | 221 | 446 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 43 | 41 | - | 84 |
| Food aid needs | 90 | 51 | 221 | 362 |
| of which: Emergency | - | - | 104 | 104 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 113 | 55 | 198 | 366 |
| of which: Delivered | 73 | 31 | 123 | 227 |
| Donor-financed local purchases | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 11 | 70 | 89 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 222 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 110 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 64 | |||
1/ Includes needs of returnees from neighbouring countries.