MOZAMBIQUE (24 September)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in April-May estimated the 2004 cereal production at 2 million tonnes, some 11 percent above the good harvest of 2003. Improved harvests were realized particularly in the southern and central provinces, while production was similar to last year’s in the northern provinces. The mission also reported that brown streak disease of cassava was seriously affecting yields in Memba and to a lesser extent in parts of the neighbouring districts.
Despite the overall satisfactory national production, there are specific areas such as the southern districts of Tete province, the northern and southern tips of Manica province and some localities in southern provinces, where harvests were reduced. Some 187 000 people will need 49 000 tonnes of relief food assistance in marketing year 2004/05 due to the impact of floods/droughts in the previous years and to cope with the HIV/AIDS problem. A part of the food assistance could be procured locally in view of a maize surplus in northern and central areas but, because of high internal transport cost to southern parts, some amounts will need to be imported while informal exports from northern Mozambique will go to Malawi. The marked regional differences in maize production and consumption, coupled with high cost of transportation from the surplus North and Centre to deficit South, are reflected in maize prices in the South (for example in Maputo) being almost twice as much as prices in the Centre (for example in Manica province). As reported by SIMA/MADER, maize retail prices have stabilized in most markets in the country. Due to higher than expected production in the region, maize prices are lower this September compared to the same month in 2003 and 2002 in Maputo and Beira markets. On the other hand, prices in Nampula are higher relative to the year before as an indication of stronger cross-border demand from Malawi.
FEWSNET reported recently the lifting of the ban on livestock movement by National Livestock Directorate (DINAP) in Maputo, Gaza, and Manica Provinces. This is expected to improve the internal trade of livestock and help the farmers.