Area:
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1.22 million sq.km
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Climate:
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Sub-tropical with rains concentrated in the summer months (November-April); occasional snow in winter over higher parts of plateau and Cape ranges; an average of 120 days frost in the interior plateau
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Population:
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45.28 million (1999 estimate); GNP per caput US$ 2 880 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Normally net food exporter, notably maize
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Logistics:
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Adequate port, rail and road facilities
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, wheat
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Marketing year:
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May/April; Lean season: February-April
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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54 percent
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Rains during June delayed harvesting of the 2000 coarse grain crops. By mid-July only one-third of maize crop had been gathered. Despite severe floods and crop losses in KwaZulu-Natal, Northern and Mpumalanga provinces in February and March, the maize belt was not affected and benefited from normal to above normal precipitation during the growing season. Provisional estimates put maize output at 9.64 million tonnes, one-third higher than in the previous year and above average. This reflects higher plantings and yields. However, the wet weather at harvest has negatively affected the quality of the grain. Production of sorghum is also forecast to increase from 1999. Following two consecutive reduced maize harvests, this year's crop will allow the replenishment of stocks and an exportable surplus of about 1.5 to 2 million tonnes in marketing year 2000/01 (May/April).
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years' average production | 2 093 | 3 | 8 527 | 10 623 |
| Previous five years' average exports | 631 | 486 | 544 | 1 661 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 1 995 | 2 | 10 151 | 12 148 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 1 860 | 3 | 10 151 | 12 014 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 1 860 | 2 | 10 151 | 12 013 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 135 | - | - | 135 |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 2 595 | 449 | 10 588 | 13 632 |
| Food Use | 2 420 | 399 | 4 486 | 7 305 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 105 | 50 | 4 202 | 4 357 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 70 | - | 1 300 | 1 370 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 600 | 600 |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 600 | 447 | 437 | 1 484 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 600 | 447 | 437 | 1 484 |
| 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) | 61 | 10 | 112 | 183 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 113 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 89 |
