| 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: | 43.33 million (1997 estimate); GNP per caput U.S.$ 3 160 (1995) |
| 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 |
CURRENT SITUATION
The harvesting of coarse grain has been delayed due to unseasonably wet and cold weather, also causing supply problems for shippers and local millers. The official estimate of the 1997 commercial maize crop has been revised to 7.97 million tons from 7.66 million tons. This is still 18 percent lower than last year’s record output but slightly above average. Recent heavy rains should benefit the winter crop, now at early germination stage. The total cereal output is estimated at 11.5 million tons, which is 15 percent below the 1996 harvest but above the five-year average.
Despite the reduction in cereal production, the food situation is expected to remain satisfactory in 1997/98. The country may have up to 1 million tons of maize to export during the current season, which will be the first year of full deregulation in several decades, with private traders authorized to export any amount of maize.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
1 835 |
3 |
8 830 |
10 668 |
|
Normal Exports |
434 |
367 |
1 717 |
2 518 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
2 350 |
105 |
9 125 |
11 580 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
2 350 |
3 |
9 125 |
11 478 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
2 350 |
2 |
9 125 |
11 477 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
103 |
- |
103 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
2 750 |
605 |
9 371 |
12 726 |
|
Food Use |
2 410 |
595 |
4 416 |
7 421 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
190 |
10 |
4 143 |
4 343 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
150 |
- |
700 |
850 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
112 |
112 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
400 |
500 |
246 |
1 146 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
400 |
500 |
246 |
1 146 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
56 |
14 |
102 |
172 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
108 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
- |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
- |