Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

BOTSWANA

Area:	567 000 sq.km
Climate:	South-western part arid (Kalahari desert);rest semi-arid with some rains in Dec.-Feb.
Population:	1.49 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 2 590 (1993)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Land-locked country; drought-prone; agricultural production only in the east and south- east; swamps in the northern parts; desert in the west
Logistics:	Imports through South Africa
Major foodcrops:	Sorghum, pulses, vegetables
Marketing year:	April/March; Lean season: January/March
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	55 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Despite a late start of the 1995/96 season, most parts of the country have received above-normal rainfall. This has generally been favourable, though continuous rainfall in January delayed ploughing and planting of coarse grains in some northern areas. Maize production in 1996 is forecast at 14 000 tons, more than double last year’s drought-reduced crop.With good harvests in prospect, the food supply situation for the 1996/97 marketing year is expected to be satisfactory. Commercial imports should cover cereal requirements. On-going relief programmes are reported to be progressing well with adequate food available for targeted beneficiaries and some 570 000 vulnerable people benefiting from supplementary feeding programmes.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1996/97 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	1	-	59	60
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	60	8	116	184
of which: Structural food aid	-	-	20	20
1996 Production	1	-	67	68
1996/97 Utilization	73	8	210	291
Food use	66	8	201	275
Non-food use	-	-	9	9
Re-exports and exports	7	-	-	7
1996/97 Import Requirement	72	8	143	223
Anticipated commercial imports	72	8	143	223
Food aid needs	-	-	-	-
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	-	-	-
of which: Delivered	-	-	-	-
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	42	6	139	187
Indexes
1996 production as % of normal:				113
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal:				121
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				-

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996