Africa report 05/96 Individual countries

SWAZILAND

Area:	17 000 sq.km
Climate:	Highland rainy climate. One rainy season (October-April); cool temperatures in May- September
Population:	0.83 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 1 050 (1993)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country
Logistics:	Good road network; imports through Mozambique or South Africa
Major foodcrops:	Maize
Marketing year:	May/April; Lean season: February-April
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	55 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Rainfall has been above normal since the beginning of the season in most areas. With an increase in area planted this year, 1996 maize output is expected to be higher than last year's crop and may exceed 90 000 tons assuming favourable conditions persist until harvest in May/June.The food supply situation remains tight, though there has been some improvement as a result of further donor pledges and recent deliveries of maize. The country, however, still faces a shortage of maize in localized areas. Despite better production prospects, maize availability during the 1996/97 marketing year is not expected to cover total requirements. Total pledges now amount to 14 100 tons and deliveries to date stand at 6 000 tons.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	1	2	116	119
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	25	2	20	47
of which: Structural food aid	8	-	1	9
1995 Domestic availability	3	1	72	76
1995 Production	-	1	70	71
Possible stock drawdown	3	-	2	5
1995/96 Utilization	38	9	122	169
Food use	38	9	102	149
Non-food use	-	-	18	18
Cross border exports	-	-	2	2
1995/96 Import Requirement	35	8	50	93
Anticipated commercial imports	35	8	41	84
Food aid needs	-	-	9	9
of which: Emergency	-	-	9	9
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	-	14	14
of which: Delivered	-	-	6	6
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	44	11	119	174
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				60
1996 import requirement as % of normal:				198
1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				100

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996