LESOTHO (19 May)
Due to the delayed planting rains, harvesting this year is expected to be later than the normal March-April period. A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is currently in the country carrying out an assessment of food supply and demand for the current marketing year. On 11 February 2004 the Government declared a state of emergency on account of the prevailing drought and the worsening HIV/AIDS problem. The preliminary results of a mid-season assessment by FAO and WFP in February-March indicated that maize, wheat and sorghum production this year is expected to be only about 41 000 tonnes, down by more than half from already reduced harvest of 2003. Plantings were adversely affected by withdrawal of customary input subsidies for farmers this year.The Government appealed for an additional 57 000 tonnes of food aid to help feed 600 000 people until the 2005 harvest as part of an emergency measures package. Although scattered showers in February and March brought some temporary relief from the prolonged dryness, they did not change the overall crop situation significantly in the country. The food supply situation remains very tight due to below-average cereal production in 2003 and the total failure of winter crops.