| Area: | 741 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry, one rainy season (November-April) |
| Population: | 10.041 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 400 (1995) |
| 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 |
CURRENT SITUATION
A recent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Zambia estimated the 1998 cereal production at 707 000 tonnes, some 37 percent below the previous year’s level. Excessive rainfall throughout the season, with extensive flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, resulted in crop losses and reduced yields in northern areas, while the southern region experienced near-drought conditions which drastically reduced crop yields and total production.
The food supply situation for the 1998/99 marketing year is expected to be tight. Commercial cereal import is forecast at 364 000 tonnes (including 15 000 tonnes of rice and 41 000 tonnes of wheat), leaving an uncovered deficit of 296 000 tonnes, of which 45 000 tonnes are for emergency food assistance. With an extremely low import capacity at present, the country will need international assistance in the form of grants, concessional imports and targeted food aid to cover its food requirements. Food aid pledges amount so far to 6 000 tonnes, and 3 000 tonnes have been delivered.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 53 | 14 | 1 348 | 1 415 |
| Normal Imports | 35 | 4 | 65 | 104 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 25 | - | 45 | 70 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 76 | 5 | 674 | 755 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 71 | 6 | 632 | 709 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | 71 | 4 | 632 | 707 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 5 | 1 | 42 | 48 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 117 | 28 | 1 270 | 1 415 |
| Food Use | 113 | 26 | 1 054 | 1 193 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 4 | 2 | 163 | 169 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 53 | 53 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 41 | 23 | 596 | 660 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 41 | 15 | 308 | 364 |
| Food aid needs | - | 8 | 288 | 296 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 3 | - | 3 | 6 |
| of which: Delivered | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 11 | 3 | 103 | 116 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 50 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 635 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 423 |
