Rainfall in January and part of February was about normal in the eastern half of the country, especially in the Northeast and Caprivi regions, providing relatively favourable conditions for crops. However, subsequent prolonged dry spells and poor rainfall may have adversely affected yields in many growing areas. Late planted crops will need continued and well distributed rains to reach their maturity.
Assuming no serious deterioration in weather conditions in coming weeks, output is expected to be close to average but sharply below the 1997 bumper crop. With large carryover stocks anticipated at the end of the current marketing year, available supply and planned commercial imports should cover consumption requirements during the 1998/99 marketing year.