FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.55
| Area: | 1.22 million sq km |
| Climate: | Sub-tropical with rains concentrated in the summer months (November-April); occasional snow in winter over higher parts of plateau and Cape ranges; an average of 120 days frost in the interior plateau |
| Population: | 41.35 million (2002 estimate); GNP per caput US$3 020 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Normally net food exporter, notably maize |
| Logistics: | Adequate port, rail and road facilities |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, wheat |
| Marketing year: | May/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 54 percent |
Harvest of the 2002 coarse grains is completed. Final official production forecast of the 2002 maize crop have been revised upwards to 9.09 million tonnes, which is 22 percent above the below-average level of the previous year. The increase in production reflects a rise of 4 percent in the area planted and favourable weather conditions in the main growing areas. Output of sorghum is estimated at 197 000 tonnes, 9 percent higher than in 2001 despite. Despite this year’s good maize harvest, the available exportable surplus is not expected to meet the increased import needs of other countries of the sub-region, affected by dry conditions during the 2001/02 cropping season. Output of the 2002 wheat crop, to be harvested from October, is forecast at 2.298 million tonnes, 8 percent below last year’s level reflecting lower plantings and yields.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 178 | 2 | 9 596 | 11 776 |
| Previous five years average imports | 130 | - | 1 166 | 1 296 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 2 348 | - | 9 553 | 11 901 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 298 | - | 9 348 | 11 646 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 298 | - | 9 348 | 11 646 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 50 | - | 205 | 255 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 2 748 | - | 10 179 | 12 927 |
| Food use | 2 520 | - | 4 618 | 7 138 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 98 | - | 4 541 | 4 639 |
| Exports or re-exports | 130 | - | 1 020 | 1 150 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 400 | - | 626 | 1 026 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 400 | - | 626 | 1 026 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 61 | - | 112 | 173 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 99 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 79 |