| Area: | 17 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Highland rainy climate. One rainy season (October-April); cool temperatures in May- September |
| Population: | 0.904 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 1 170 (1995) |
| 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
Harvesting of the 1997 crop is complete. Above normal rains in March in all regions caused some damage to crops over half of which were at harvesting stage. The 1997 maize harvest is preliminarily estimated at 81 000 tons, well below the previous year’s crop but close to the five-year average. The reduction is explained by a complete crop failure in the Lowveld.
The national food supply situation for the 1997/98 marketing year is expected to remain satisfactory as a result of the availability of large carryover stocks from the good maize harvest realized during the previous production year. Although some cereal imports are possible during 1997/98, they will be covered through commercial channels.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
1 |
3 |
116 |
120 |
|
Normal Imports |
25 |
2 |
20 |
47 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
8 |
- |
1 |
9 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
- |
1 |
113 |
114 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
1 |
81 |
82 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
1 |
81 |
82 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
32 |
32 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
40 |
9 |
113 |
162 |
|
Food Use |
40 |
9 |
91 |
140 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
- |
- |
20 |
20 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
40 |
8 |
- |
48 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
40 |
8 |
- |
48 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
44 |
10 |
101 |
155 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
68 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
102 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
- |