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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12.96 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$190 (1999)
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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
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Continuous heavy rains in February and March have resulted in serious floods in 13 of the country's 27 districts, particularly in southern areas along the Shire River. Official reports indicate that 200 000 people are displaced due to the floods and 346 000 affected in different degrees. It is estimated that 50 000 hectares of crops have been lost to the floods. The Government has appealed for international assistance to cope with the disaster. WFP has planned to distribute emergency food aid to 275 000 people. However, persistent rains hamper distributions. Many areas are inaccessible as a result of damage to roads and bridges
Prospects for the 2001 cereal crops have deteriorated with the excessive rains of the past months that are likely to have caused yield reductions. A dry spell and high temperatures in January in some southern districts, mainly Balaka, Zomba and Mwanza, also negatively affected yields in these areas. Latest forecast point to a maize crop of 2.15 million tonnes, 15 percent below the bumper harvest of last year, but still above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory reflecting last year's good harvest and adequate stocks. Also at household level the food security situation is reported to be generally satisfactory.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 71 | 1 919 | 1 992 |
| Previous five years average imports | 43 | 1 | 119 | 163 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 2 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 585 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 | 87 | 2 527 | 2 616 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 585 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 62 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 645 |
| Food Use | 62 | 43 | 1 814 | 1 919 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Non-food use | - | 12 | 375 | 387 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 1 | 300 | 301 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 38 | 38 |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 25 | - | 5 | 30 |
| of which: Delivered | 25 | - | 5 | 30 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| for export | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 5 | 3 | 140 | 148 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 131 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 37 |
