Area: |
94 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry climate; rainy season: November-May |
Population |
11.86 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$170 (2000) |
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 2002 cereal crops, to be harvested from April next year, is well advanced. Normal rains in October, which were above average in northern and southern parts, favoured sowing operations and benefited earlier planted crops. The Government's programme of free inputs to vulnerable farmers is underway in southern parts. One million households are expected to receive agricultural inputs under the programme.
Reflecting widespread excessive rains during the growing season, the 2001
cereal production was sharply reduced. The maize crops was estimated at 1.7 million
tonnes, 32 percent below the bumper crops of the previous two years, when an export
surplus was available. As a result, the food supply situation is extremely tight. Official
stocks, which were low at the beginning of the 2001/02 marketing year (April/March) have
been depleted. Prices of maize in local markets have increased some 400 percent from
theirs levels of a year ago. By October, a kilogram of maize was quoted at 18 Kawacha,
against 2 to 5 Kawacha at the same time last year. Food shortages are being experienced in
localized parts, particularly in the southern districts worst affected by floods. The
Government has made arrangements to import 150 000 tonnes of maize from South Africa,
but only 10 000 tonnes had arrived in the country by mid-October. However, most of these
imports will be sold on the open market where prices have increased beyond the reach of
large sections of the population. The Government is considering free distribution of maize
to the most vulnerable people. Emergency food assistance distributed by WFP to 208 500
people worst affected by the floods until October, will be extended for further two months
until the end of December in view of the serious food supply situation.
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
Previous five years average production
|
2 |
78 |
2 085 |
2 165 |
Previous five years average imports
|
41 |
1 |
79 |
121 |
2001/02 Domestic Availability
|
2 |
58 |
1 827 |
1 887 |
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
2 |
89 |
1 763 |
1 854 |
2001 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
2 |
58 |
1 763 |
1 823 |
Possible stock drawdown
|
- |
- |
64 |
64 |
2001/02 Utilization
|
47 |
58 |
2 056 |
2 161 |
Food use
|
46 |
45 |
1 818 |
1 909 |
of which: local purchase requirement
|
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
Non-food use
|
- |
12 |
238 |
250 |
Exports or re-exports
|
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
Possible stock build up
|
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
2001/02 Import Requirement
|
45 |
- |
229 |
274 |
Anticipated commercial imports
|
35 |
- |
220 |
255 |
Food aid needs
|
10 |
- |
9 |
19 |
Current Aid Position
|
||||
Food aid pledges
|
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
of which: delivered
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Donor-financed purchases
|
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
of which: for local use
|
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
for export
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
3 |
3 |
136 |
143 |
Indexes
|
||||
2001 Production as % of average:
|
86 |
|||
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average:
|
226 |