Area: |
741 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry; rainy season:
November-April |
Population: |
10.44 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$320 (1999) |
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 |
Harvesting of the minor wheat crop is under way. Latest forecast indicate an output of 90 000 tonnes, unchanged from last year's good level.
Rains in the third dekad of October, which were above average in central parts, favoured planting of the 2001 maize crop, and benefited early-sowed crops.
Reflecting abundant rains during the growing season, and despite severe localized floods, the 2000 cereal production increased 43 percent from last year to 1.5 million tonnes. The main maize crop is estimated at an above-average level of 1.3 million tonnes, which entirely covers domestic requirements. Following three years of reduced harvests and high import requirements, no imports of maize are expected in marketing year 2001 (May/April).
As a result of the bumper 2000 cereal harvest, the overall food supply is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied. Prices of maize and have declined since May and are below both the last year and average levels.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 63 | 16 | 1 012 | 1 091 |
| Previous five years average imports | 57 | 15 | 301 | 373 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 90 | 13 | 1 411 | 1 514 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 90 | 19 | 1 411 | 1 520 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 90 | 13 | 1 411 | 1 514 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 131 | 36 | 1 411 | 1 578 |
| Food Use | 127 | 34 | 1 171 | 1 332 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| Non-food use | 4 | 2 | 185 | 191 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 41 | 23 | - | 64 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 41 | 22 | - | 63 |
| Food aid needs | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 12 | 3 | 110 | 125 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 139 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 17 |
