MOZAMBIQUE (6 June)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in April-May estimated the 2005 Cereal production in Mozambique to be about 1.92 million tonnes, some 3 percent lower than last year’s record harvest, but 10 percent above last five-year average. Regional performance, however, differed significantly with 43 and 4 percent reductions in the cereal harvest in the southern and central provinces respectively, and an estimated 12 percent increase in the three northern provinces. Surplus maize from the northern and central areas is expected to be exported to neighbouring food deficit Malawi.
Despite the overall satisfactory national production, there are specific areas such as the southern districts of Tete province, and many districts in southern provinces, where harvests were reduced. Total cereal import requirements, including rice and wheat, are forecast to be 10 percent higher than last year’s. Maize imports, in the order of 175 000 tonnes, may be necessary, given the high costs of moving grain from north to south. Of these about 130 000 tonnes are expected to be through commercial channels, leaving about 45 000 tonnes to be covered by food aid imports.
The preliminary results indicate that some 587 500 people will need emergency food assistance of about 70 000 tonnes of cereals during July 2005 to March 2006 lean period primarily due to the impact of drought in the south and parts of centre. Total national food assistance needs including those required to cope with the HIV/AIDS problem (under the regional PRRO) are estimated at 83 000 tonnes. Part of these food needs (about 114 300 tonnes) could be procured locally in view of a maize surplus in northern and central areas. Revised cassava yield estimates place the quantities theoretically available for use at a higher level than in previous assessments; therefore, the Mission recommends that opportunities for local purchases of dried cassava and cassava flour for food aid requirements be investigated.