FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.61
| Area: | 741 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; rainy season: November-April |
| Population: | 10.87 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$300 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country |
| Logistics: | Imports through Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); inadequate rail and road connections |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, roots, tubers |
| Marketing year: | May/April; Lean season: March-May |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 70 percent |
The 2002 cereal crop was reduced for the second consecutive year. A prolonged dry spell from January to March, the critical period for development of the crops, sharply reduced yields. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in April 2002 estimated the output of the main staple maize at 606 000 tonnes, 24 percent below last year’s poor harvest and 42 percent lower than the normal crop of 2000. Most affected areas were the Southern, Western, Eastern, Lusaka and Central provinces. Cereal import requirements for marketing year 2002/03 (May/April) were estimated at 626 000 tonnes. Commercial imports are expected to reach some 400 000 tonnes, leaving 225 000 tonnes to be covered by food aid. Emergency food aid requirements for 2.329 million most affected people was estimated at 174 000 tonnes. Emergency supply of seeds (maize, sorghum, groundnuts) to drought affected farming families is also urgently needed for planting of the next season starting in October 2002.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 77 | 17 | 1004 | 1 098 |
| Previous five years average imports | 44 | 20 | 243 | 307 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 75 | 6 | 673 | 754 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 75 | 10 | 663 | 748 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 75 | 6 | 663 | 744 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 115 | 17 | 1 248 | 1 380 |
| Food use | 111 | 17 | 1 067 | 1 195 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 4 | - | 171 | 175 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 40 | 11 | 575 | 626 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 40 | 11 | 350 | 401 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 225 | 225 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 17 | 17 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 17 | 17 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 10 | 2 | 98 | 110 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 68 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 204 |