| Area: | 567 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | South-western part arid (Kalahari desert); rest semi-arid with some rains in Dec.-Feb. |
| Population: | 1.55 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 3 020 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | 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
Rainfall in October has favoured early planting of coarse grain crops to be harvested from April 1999. However, more rain is needed for good crop establishment. Production of cereals in 1998, mainly sorghum, is estimated at 9 000 tonnes, one-third of last year's poor crop and markedly below average, due to erratic and poorly distributed rainfall.
However, even in normal years, the country imports the bulk of its cereal consumption requirements. It is therefore anticipated that available grain stocks and planned commercial imports will meet total requirements for the 1998/99 marketing year.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 1 | - | 59 | 60 |
| Normal Imports | 60 | 8 | 116 | 184 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 66 | - | 199 | 265 |
| Food Use | 66 | - | 195 | 261 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 66 | - | 190 | 256 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 66 | - | 190 | 256 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 43 | - | 126 | 168 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 15 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 139 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
