| Area: | 30 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Highland rainy climate with mild winter. One rainy season Oct.-April. Cool temperatures in May-September with frost hazard |
| Population: | 2.16 million (excluding migrant labour force)(1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 770 |
| (1995) | |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country |
| Logistics: | All imports through South Africa |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, sorghum, vegetables |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 75 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial indications are that the 1997 cereal harvest will be much lower than the record crop in 1996. The 1996/97 season was characterized by widespread rains, a dry spell in February which particularly affected crops in southern districts when much of the crop was at tasselling stage and early frost in the last two weeks of April. Official preliminary crop assessment points to a harvest of 90 500 tons of maize, 13 000 tons of sorghum and 5 300 tons of wheat. If this is confirmed, the 1997 total cereal output will be below average and less than half of last year's record crop.
As a result of the anticipated drop in output, the food supply situation for the 1997/98 marketing year is expected to be tight. The cereal deficit, which is anticipated to exceed 250 000 tons, will be covered largely through commercial imports and some food aid.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
23 |
- |
155 |
178 |
|
Normal Imports |
55 |
10 |
150 |
215 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
15 |
2 |
20 |
37 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
22 |
- |
114 |
136 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
5 |
- |
104 |
109 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
5 |
- |
104 |
109 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
17 |
- |
10 |
27 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
82 |
- |
314 |
396 |
|
Food Use |
79 |
- |
289 |
368 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
3 |
- |
25 |
28 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
60 |
- |
200 |
260 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
60 |
- |
105 |
165 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
- |
95 |
95 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
36 |
- |
134 |
171 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
61 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
121 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
257 |