Area: |
30 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Highland rainy climate with mild
winter. Rainy season: Oct.-April. Cool temperatures in May-September with frost hazard |
Population: |
2.24 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$550 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
land-locked |
Logistics: |
All imports through South Africa |
Major foodcrops: |
Maize, sorghum, vegetables |
Marketing year: |
April/March; Lean season:
February-April |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
75 percent |
Harvesting of the 2000 wheat crop has started. Latest forecast point to a crop of 21 000 tonnes, substantially above the poor output of last year but still below average due to reduced plantings.
Above-average rains in the third dekad of October, following dry weather in previous weeks, improved soil moisture for planting of the 2001 coarse grains and benefited early sowed crops.
As a result of unfavourable weather, the 2000 coarse grain production declined 18 percent to a below-average level of 127 000 tonnes. Cereal import requirements in marketing year 2001 (April/March) are estimated at 190 000 tonnes of maize and 55 000 tonnes of wheat. The bulk of these imports is anticipated to be covered commercially
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 24 | - | 153 | 177 |
| Previous five years average imports | 49 | 3 | 154 | 206 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 21 | - | 146 | 167 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 21 | - | 127 | 148 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 21 | - | 127 | 148 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 76 | 3 | 336 | 415 |
| Food Use | 75 | 3 | 299 | 377 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 1 | - | 37 | 38 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 55 | 3 | 190 | 248 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 55 | 3 | 180 | 238 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 35 | 1 | 139 | 175 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 84 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 120 |
