Area: |
94 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry climate; rainy season:
November-May |
Population |
12.58 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$190 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
land-locked country; importer and exporter of grain |
Logistics: |
Imports/exports through Beira
(Mozambique) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) |
Major foodcrops: |
Maize, pulses, roots, tubers, rice |
Marketing year: |
April/March; Lean season:
February-March |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
70 percent |
Planting of the 2001 maize crop is underway. Good and timely rains in the third dekade of October, which followed light precipitation in previous weeks, benefited planting operations and early planted crops. Rains were particularly abundant in southern parts. Early prospects are favourable.
A bumper cereal harvest was obtained in 2000 reflecting good rains during the season and support to farmers through inputs distribution programmes. Maize production was estimated at 2.47 million tonnes, almost unchanged from the record level of the previous year. Following two consecutive above-average crops, the overall food supply is satisfactory. Export availabilities are estimated at 300 000 tonnes of maize. Prices of maize have declined and are one-third below their level of a year ago.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 71 | 1 919 | 1 992 |
| Previous five years average imports | 43 | 1 | 119 | 163 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 2 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 585 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 | 87 | 2 527 | 2 616 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 585 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 62 | 56 | 2 527 | 2 645 |
| Food Use | 62 | 43 | 1 814 | 1 919 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Non-food use | - | 12 | 375 | 387 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 1 | 300 | 301 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 38 | 38 |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 11 | - | 5 | 16 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 5 | 3 | 140 | 148 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 131 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 37 |
