| Area: | 30 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Highland rainy climate with mild winter. One rainy season Oct.-April. Cool temperatures in May-September with frost hazard |
| Population: | 2 million (excluding migrant labour force)(1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 660 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country |
| Logistics: | All imports through South Africa |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, sorghum, vegetables |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 75 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Light to medium rains in most parts of the country in October and November allowed land preparation and planting of the main maize crop. Heavy rains across the whole country have benefited the crops which are the vegetative stages in the mountains and foothills and early vegetative stages elsewhere. An improvement in harvest over last year is anticipated as a result of significant increases in area planted coupled with the current good supply of inputs.
The recent official estimate put the 1994/95 harvest at about 89 000 tons, 29 percent higher than the previous estimate. Nevertheless, the food security situation remains very tight. Import deliveries are reported to be relatively slow. Of the 60 000 tons of food aid needed, pledges by donors amount to 51 000 tons so far, of which 27 000 tons have been delivered. Meanwhile, some 592 000 people have been registered under the drought relief programme and food distribution began in mid-September. Additionally, the Government plans to implement an input subsidy programme to enable farmers to purchase maize and other seeds and fertilizers.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 23 | - | 155 | 178 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 55 | 1 | 150 | 206 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 15 | - | 20 | 35 |
| 1995/96 Domestic availability | 16 | - | 84 | 100 |
| 1995 Production | 11 | - | 78 | 89 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 5 | - | 6 | 11 |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 76 | - | 301 | 377 |
| Food use | 75 | - | 288 | 363 |
| Non-food use | 1 | - | 13 | 14 |
| 1995/96 Import Requirement | 60 | - | 217 | 277 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | - | 167 | 217 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | - | 50 | 60 |
| of which: Emergency | - | - | 37 | 37 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 20 | - | 31 | 51 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 27 | 27 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 40 | - | 138 | 178 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 50 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 134 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 171 | |||