| Area: | 886 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | December) and one in south (November-April) |
| Population: | 31.51 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 210 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | cereal deficit in the north-west. Distribution difficulties |
| Logistics: | Serious shortage of rolling stock, fuel and spare parts |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, roots, tubers, sorghum, pulses, plantains, rice |
| Marketing year: | June/May; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 60 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following the good 1998 cereal and non-cereal crop production. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission earlier in the year estimated the 1998 total food crop production at one-third higher than the 1997 reduced level and above average. Pasture and animal conditions are also good in pastoral zones.
Despite available exportable surpluses in marketing year 1998/99 (June/May), food deficits are expected in parts of Singida and Dodoma regions, where production was reduced, as well as in the chronically food deficit areas of the Coast region. Recent assessments indicate that a total of 374 000 persons are in need of food assistance until the next harvest in February 1999.
Planting of the 1998/99 short "Vuli" season crop is underway under normal conditions so far.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 85 | 607 | 3 230 | 3 922 |
| Normal Imports | 60 | 25 | - | 85 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 15 | 15 | - | 30 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 126 | 658 | 3 435 | 4 219 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 96 | 1 013 | 3 397 | 4 506 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | 96 | 658 | 3 397 | 4 151 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 30 | - | 38 | 68 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 141 | 659 | 3 452 | 4 252 |
| Food Use | 131 | 506 | 2 879 | 3 516 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 33 | 503 | 541 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 5 | 100 | 70 | 175 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 20 | - | 20 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 15 | 1 | 17 | 33 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 12 | - | - | 12 |
| Food aid needs | 3 | 1 | 17 | 21 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 28 | 12 | 17 | 57 |
| of which: Delivered | 3 | 1 | 17 | 21 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 4 | 16 | 91 | 112 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 115 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 39 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 70 |
