| 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: | 44.295 million (1998 estimate); GNP per caput U.S.$ 3 400 (1997) |
| 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
Normal to above-normal rains in September and October in most maize producing areas provided adequate topsoil moisture for the sowing of summer crop. The output of the 1998 wheat crop, now being harvested, is estimated at 1.47 million tonnes, 36 percent down compared to last year's above average crop and markedly below average. This decline is mostly due to a sharp decline in the area sown in response to low international and domestic wheat prices.
Aggregate cereal output in 1998 is currently estimated at 9.7 million tonnes, some 19 percent lower than last year's above-average crop. This total includes the latest estimate for the maize crop which declined, for the second consecutive year, to 7.59 million tonnes, 16 percent down on 1997. This was mainly due to reduced plantings and unfavourable weather. However, given the large carryover stocks, this decrease in production is unlikely to seriously limit the exportable surpluses to the deficit countries in the sub-region.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 1 835 | 3 | 8 830 | 10 668 |
| Normal Imports | 434 | 367 | 1 717 | 2 518 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 1 864 | 102 | 8 327 | 10 293 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 1 514 | 3 | 8 152 | 9 669 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | 1 514 | 2 | 8 152 | 9 668 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 350 | 100 | 175 | 625 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 2 864 | 549 | 9 049 | 12 462 |
| Food Use | 2 465 | 499 | 4 605 | 7 569 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 199 | 50 | 3 934 | 4 183 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 200 | - | 510 | 710 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 1 000 | 447 | 722 | 2 169 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 1 000 | 447 | 722 | 2 169 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 150 | 150 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | 150 | 150 |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 56 | 11 | 104 | 171 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 91 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | - | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
