Widespread good rains in January, after delayed and erratic precipitation since the beginning of the season in October, improved growing conditions for crops, particularly for cereals. Prospects so far for the harvest from April are generally favourable. However, the deteriorating security situation in recent months is likely to have adversely affected plantings, while shortages of agricultural inputs and poor rainfall in central and southern provinces may reduce yield potential.
The food supply situation remains extremely precarious due to the intensified civil conflict, particularly in the central provinces of Bie, Huambo and Moxico. This is causing fresh massive population displacements, with IDPs seeking safety in provincial capital cities. The number of IDPs, previously estimated at 2.7 million, has been increasing steadily across the country in recent months. Insecurity is also hampering provision of humanitarian assistance. By late January, it was estimated that about 305 000 vulnerable people in central Angola were cut off by intense military action. Food aid requirements for marketing year 2001/02 (April/March) amount to 176 000 tonnes of cereals, most of which had been pledged by the end of January 2002.
Prospects for this year's cereal crops, mainly sorghum, are uncertain. The rainy season started well in November; however, since the third dekad of December, precipitation in growing areas has been below normal, stressing the developing crops. Rains in the coming weeks will be crucial for the outcome of the cropping season.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory reflecting the country�s commercial import capacity to cover its food deficit.
The outlook for the 2002 cereal crops, to be harvested from next April, is favourable. Normal to above-normal precipitation since the beginning of the season has encouraged farmers to plant more area and has benefited developing crops.
The food supply situation is tight as a result of the reduced cereal harvest last year, particularly for households in districts worst affected by several natural disasters. Latest official production estimates of cereals in year 2001 have been revised upwards to 159 00 tonnes. At this level, production is slightly higher than in the previous year but well below average. The cereal import requirement is estimated at 263 000 tonnes. Commercial imports have been slow and are not expected to fully cover the requirements, resulting in reduced consumption of the most vulnerable groups of population.
A dry spell during the month of January, which followed erratic rains in November and December, particularly in northern and central areas, has worsened prospects for the 2002 main paddy crop. Production may also be adversely affected by a possible decline in the area planted in response to a sharp fall in prices due to a 2001 bumper crop and large carry-over stocks.
Tropical storm Cyprien hit the south-western region in early January causing localized floods and affecting about 1 900 households. The Government has provided emergency assistance to the affected population. The overall food supply situation remains stable following last year�s good harvest and the decrease in food prices.
Food supply is very tight following a decline of one-quarter in the 2001 maize crop which was affected by excessive rains and floods. The strategic grain reserve which, despite bumper harvests in the previous two years, was at a low level at the beginning of the marketing year in April, has now been depleted. Prices of maize, the food staple, have increased by an average of 400 percent from their levels of a year ago. This has sharply reduced access to food for large sections of the vulnerable population. The Government has made arrangements to import 150 000 tonnes of maize but by late January only 60 000 tonnes had entered the country due to transport problems in the sub-region. However, substantial flows of largely unrecorded cross-border imports from Mozambique and Tanzania are reported. At the household level, food shortages have emerged in southern parts of the country, where floods affected nearly 650 000 people last year and severe crop losses were experienced. The Government has appealed for international food aid.
Prospects for the 2002 cereal crops, to be harvested from mid-April are generally favourable reflecting abundant rains since the beginning of the season and the maize crop is reported in good conditions in most parts of the country. However, excessive rains in December, the second dekad of January and early February caused many rivers to burst their banks resulting in localized floods in 11 of the 27 districts of the country. Worst affected districts are Karonga, Salima, Blantyre and Chikwawa. Overall 20 000 households are reported to have suffered property and crops losses. While the extent of the damage to crops is not yet known, the excessive rains are likely to have resulted in yield reductions in these areas.
Dry weather throughout the country during January, except in the extreme north, stressed the 2002 cereal crops, to be harvested from May.
Prices of maize, which increased immediately after the harvest in mid-May, have continued to rise. Higher increases have been reported in the northern provinces; in Nampula the average price of maize by mid-December had risen more than 300 percent from its level at the beginning of the marketing year. At the current levels, prices are well above those of last year. The increase in prices mainly reflects strong demand from neighbouring Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe where production decreased significantly in 2001. In general, access to food by the poor and vulnerable groups has become restricted by the prevailing high prices of maize, the main staple in the country.
In the southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane, where the 2001 harvest was reduced for the second consecutive year, the food situation is difficult. Emergency food aid is being distributed to 172 000 vulnerable people in these provinces until the next harvest from April.
Below-average rains since the third dekad of December in northern cereal growing areas adversely affected the recently planted 2002 maize and sorghum crops. Harvest prospects are uncertain.
The national food supply situation is tight following the reduced harvest last year. Planned commercial imports fall short of requirements, which is likely to leave an uncovered deficit in marketing year 2001/02 (May/April). Vulnerable groups in urban and rural areas are experiencing food difficulties.
Prospects for the 2002 maize crop, to be harvested from May, are favourable. This reflects an increase in the area planted to maize, in response to favourable prices and abundant rains at planting time. The area planted to white maize and yellow maize increased by 9 percent and 3 percent respectively. Precipitation in December and January has been about normal. Maize production is expected to recover from the reduced level of 2001.
The overall food supply situation continues to be satisfactory. The wheat crop harvested in November 2001 was above average. Latest estimates indicate an output close to 2.5 million tonnes, an increase of 6 percent on the previous year�s level. This was due to larger plantings and adequate water supplies.
Abundant and widespread rains in the third dekad of January benefited developing maize and sorghum crops stressed by erratic precipitation in December and first two dekads of January. The outlook for the 2002 maize and sorghum crops is favourable so far but rains may have arrived too late to prevent yield reductions in parts.
The food supply situation is tight as a result of two consecutive poor harvests. Cereal import requirements in marketing year 2001/02 (April/March) are estimated at 115 000 tonnes, to be covered mostly on a commercial basis. However, commercial imports so far amount to only 51 000 tonnes. The Government has started distribution of limited amounts of emergency food aid to households affected by drought in 2001.
The food supply situation is tight following a sharply reduced 2001 cereal crop. Excessive rains and floods in parts and dry weather in the south adversely affected production of maize, the country�s main staple. Output of wheat also declined due to reduced plantings. Maize prices have risen substantially since early June, when they should normally be declining. Severe food shortages are reported in several rural locations and in urban areas. The Government has made arrangements to import 150 000 tonnes of maize to be sold at subsidized prices, but less than a quarter had arrived in the country by late January due to transport constraints in the sub-region. By mid-February it has imposed prices controls on maize meal. The Government has also appealed for international food assistance and has distributed 5 000 tonnes of maize from its Food Reserve. WFP is assisting almost 1.3 million worst affected people in targeted districts and plans to distribute 42 000 tonnes of maize until the next harvest.
The outlook for the 2002 maize crop is uncertain. A prolonged dry spell in December and January in Southern, Central, Eastern and parts of Lusaka provinces, which stressed developing crops in parts, was followed by abundant rains in the second dekad of January, but the dry weather resumed in the third dekad. More rains are needed in these areas in the coming weeks. By contrast, normal rains have been received in the northern parts of the country.
The food supply situation is extremely tight following a 28 percent decline in the 2001 maize production and financial constraints on imports. The decrease in production mainly reflected a 54 percent reduction in the area planted on the large-scale commercial farms, due to disruption by land acquisitions activities. Serious food difficulties have been reported for households in southern, eastern and extreme northern parts, where the harvest was reduced by dry weather or excessive rains. The Government has appealed for international food assistance. WFP has appealed for 94 000 tonnes of cereals to assist 558 000 vulnerable people mostly in the rural areas but also in urban centres, for a period of 12 months. Distribution of 5 200 tonnes of maize started in late November, with WFP using its own resources as pledges by donors had not yet been made. Prices of food staples and fuel, which increased sharply at the beginning of the 2001/02 marketing year last April, continue to rise, reflecting decreasing stocks and general price inflation. The Government has instituted price controls on basic foods, including bread, maize meal, wheat flour, meat, sugar and cooking oil, but this has resulted in shortages of the commodities on the open markets. It has also announced its intention to import a minimum of 150 000 tonnes of maize from South Africa but by late January very reduced quantities had arrived in the country.
The wheat crop, harvested in November 2001, is estimated at 300 000 tonnes, 20 percent higher than the 2000 poor harvest, mainly reflecting an increase in the area planted.
Prospects for the 2002 maize crop are uncertain. Abundant rains in November and December were followed by a prolonged dry spell in January. More rains are needed in the coming weeks. Shortages of agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers, are also likely to adversely affect yields this year.