FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/01 - TANZANIA (6 November)
Planting of the 2002 main season cereal crops in the unimodal central and southern areas, as well as that of 2001/02 short season ("Vuli" ) crops in bi-modal northern areas, is underway. With normal to above normal rainfall predicted for the period September to December in most parts of the country, prospects are generally favourable.
The 2001 cereal crop, mainly maize, is estimated at about 4 million tonnes, 14 percent above last year’s crop but slightly below the previous five years average. The Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) has purchased about 56 percent of the target purchase of 25 000 tonnes for the marketing year 2001/02 (June/May) bringing total stocks to 59 000 tonnes. These stocks represent about 84 percent of the total planned reserves of 70 000 tonnes.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory with stable or declining cereal prices in central, east, lake and northern Tanzania. However, sharp price increases were observed in southern highlands and southern coast areas due partly to the increased cereal demand from neighbouring countries like Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi, which saw major deficits due to adverse weather or insecurity. Furthermore, some 12 districts in northern and central Tanzania, mainly in the regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dodoma, Morogoro, Shinyanga and Singida, are reported to face varying degrees of food insecurity.