Area:
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741 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry; rainy season: November-April
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Population:
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10.65 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$320 (1999)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country
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Logistics:
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Imports through Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); inadequate rail and road connections
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, roots, tubers
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Marketing year:
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May/April; Lean season: March-May
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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70 percent
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Heavy rains in February and March over most parts of the country, except in the extreme south, resulted in localized floods along the Zambezi and Luangwa rivers. Localized floods affected areas in Western, Luapula, Northern and Central Provinces. Other affected areas are the Luangwa Valley (including areas in the districts of Serenje, Mpika, Mambwe, Lundazi, Katete, Chipata, Nyimba and Luangwa). By contrast, prolonged dry weather in Southern (Livingstone and the Gwembe Valley) and Western (Sesheke, Shangombo and Senanga) Provinces is anticipated to result in sharply reduced yields in these areas.
Overall, prospects for the 2001 maize crop have deteriorated with the widespread excessive rains. Production is forecast to decline from last year's bumper crop, reflecting also decline in the area planted because of low prices at planting time and large carryover stocks from the previous season. Imports of maize will be necessary in 2001/02 (May/April).
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 63 | 16 | 1 012 | 1 091 |
| Previous five years average imports | 57 | 15 | 301 | 373 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 90 | 13 | 1 410 | 1 513 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 90 | 19 | 1 410 | 1 519 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 90 | 13 | 1 410 | 1 513 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 131 | 36 | 1 410 | 1 577 |
| Food Use | 127 | 34 | 1 170 | 1 331 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| Non-food use | 4 | 2 | 185 | 191 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 41 | 23 | - | 64 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 41 | 22 | - | 63 |
| Food aid needs | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 12 | 3 | 110 | 125 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 139 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 17 |
