FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.41
| Area: | 94 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry climate; rainy season: November-May |
| Population | 11.44 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$170 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country; importer and exporter of grain |
| Logistics: | Imports/exports through Beira (Mozambique) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, pulses, roots, tubers, rice |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-March |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 70 percent |
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in April/ May 2002 estimated the 2002 maize production at 1 539 000 tonnes, 10 percent below last year’s poor harvest. This reflects a late start of the rainy season followed by localized floods, a long dry spell during February-March, and the early cessation of the rains in April. Reduced input supplies, mainly fertilizers, also adversely affected yields. Consumption of green maize before the harvest, due to severe food shortages in the first months of the year, further diminished the output. The cereal import requirement in 2002/03 marketing year (April/March) is currently estimated at 510 000 tonnes. Commercial imports of cereals are anticipated at some 302 000 tonnes and food aid requirements for 3.2 million vulnerable population at 208 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 82 | 2 065 | 2 149 |
| Previous five years average imports | 40 | 1 | 86 | 127 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 2 | 63 | 1 597 | 1 662 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 | 95 | 1 597 | 1 694 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 | 62 | 1 597 | 1 661 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 50 | 67 | 2 055 | 2 172 |
| Food use | 50 | 55 | 1 776 | 1 881 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Non-food use | - | 12 | 274 | 286 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 48 | 4 | 458 | 510 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 48 | 4 | 250 | 302 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 208 | 208 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 4 | 5 | 155 | 164 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 79 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 402 |