Area:
|
741 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet-dry, one rainy season (November-April)
|
Population:
|
10.240 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 380 (1997)
|
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
|
Abundant rains in December and January, particularly in the central part of the country, enabled farmers to put more land into cultivation. Initial indications are that the area under coarse grains will be much higher than last year's level. However, input supply is reported to be inadequate in many areas. After the drought and flood reduced harvest of 1997/98, early prospects for the 1998/99 cereal crops are favourable.
The food supply situation for the current marketing year continues to be tight. To meet its domestic food shortfall, the country has been importing maize, largely from countries in the sub-region, including Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Relief food assistance continues to be needed for vulnerable groups and those affected by drought. Food aid pledges by donors amount to 25 500 tonnes, of which 26z 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
|
81
|
5
|
673
|
759
|
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
71
|
6
|
632
|
709
|
1998 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
71
|
4
|
632
|
707
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
10
|
1
|
41
|
52
|
|
1998/99 Utilization
|
122
|
28
|
1 269
|
1 419
|
Food Use
|
118
|
26
|
1 154
|
1 298
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
Non-food use
|
4
|
2
|
115
|
121
|
Exports or Re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
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
|
6
|
1
|
19
|
26
|
of which: Delivered
|
6
|
1
|
19
|
26
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)
|
12
|
3
|
113
|
127
|
Indexes
|
||||
1998 production as % of normal:
|
50
| |||
1998/99 import requirement as % of normal:
|
635
| |||
1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal:
|
423
|
