Area:
|
387 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Centre and north-east tropical wet-dry; south and west semi-arid; rainy season: November-March
|
Population:
|
12.25 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 750 (1997)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Land-locked country; exporter and importer of grain
|
Logistics:
|
Exports and imports through Mozambique or South Africa
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Maize, wheat, millet, sorghum
|
Marketing year:
|
April/March; Lean season: February-April
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
66 percent
|
Harvesting of the 1999 coarse grain crops, mainly maize, is completed. Despite a significant increase in the area planted and good rains at the beginning of the season, crop yields were adversely affected by excessive rains in January and February. Latest estimates indicate a maize output of 1.54 million tonnes, 5 percent above last year, but still below average. Millet and sorghum production is also estimated to have declined.
Prices of basic food commodities have increased sharply since the same period last year, reflecting the unsatisfactory harvest and low carryover stocks. The food supply situation in the 1999/2000 marketing year (April/March) is anticipated to be tight. Maize import requirements are estimated at about 450 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 240 | 4 | 1 880 | 2 124 |
| Normal Imports | 55 | 20 | - | 75 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 310 | - | 1 875 | 2 185 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 300 | - | 1 875 | 2 175 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 300 | - | 1 875 | 2 175 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | - | 10 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 385 | 25 | 2 325 | 2 735 |
| Food Use | 370 | 25 | 1 744 | 2 139 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 15 | - | 491 | 506 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 90 | 90 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 75 | 25 | 450 | 550 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 75 | 25 | 450 | 550 |
| 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) | 30 | 2 | 142 | 175 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 102 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 733 | |||
| 1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
