Area:
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94 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry climate; rainy season: November-May
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Population
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12.58 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 200 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country; importer and exporter of grain
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Logistics:
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Imports/exports through Beira (Mozambique) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, pulses, roots, tubers, rice
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Marketing year:
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April/March; Lean season: February-March
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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70 percent
|
Heavy rains in mid-March in southern areas bordering Mozambique resulted in severe damage to housing and infrastructure, and crop and livestock losses. Preliminary estimates indicate that 10 000 people have been displaced by the floodwaters. Worst affected areas are those along the Lower Shire Valley, particularly the districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa. Emergency food and non-food assistance is urgently required for these populations.
Despite the crop losses in the Southern Region, the abundant rains from the second dekad of February have generally benefited cereal crops in central and northern parts, affected by dry weather earlier in the season. Overall crop prospects are rated favourable. Official forecast indicates a 2000 maize production of 2.33 million tonnes, only 6 percent below the record harvest of last year.
The overall food supply remains satisfactory following the bumper cereal crop of 1999, which resulted in exportable surplus and a substantial increase in maize stocks.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 2 | 35 | 1 330 | 1 367 |
| Normal Imports | 40 | 3 | 40 | 83 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | 40 | 40 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 2 | 60 | 2 541 | 2 603 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 | 93 | 2 541 | 2 636 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 | 60 | 2 541 | 2 603 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 60 | 60 | 2 599 | 2 719 |
| Food Use | 60 | 49 | 1 934 | 2 043 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Non-food use | - | 8 | 170 | 178 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 1 | 400 | 401 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 2 | 95 | 97 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 58 | - | 58 | 116 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 58 | - | - | 58 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 58 | 58 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 58 | 58 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 58 | 58 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 5 | 4 | 154 | 162 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 193 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 140 | |||
| 1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 145 |
