Area:
|
94 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet-dry climate; rainy season: November-May
|
Population
|
13.34 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
|
Widespread normal to above-normal rains during the third dekade of March improved prospects for the 2002 cereal crops affected by a dry spell in the previous two dekades. Despite normal cumulative rainfall since the beginning or the season, yields may have been negatively affected by a late start of the rainy season and erratic precipitation, with prolonged dry spells and floods in parts.
The food supply situation is extremely tight following last year's reduced maize harvest, depletion of strategic reserves and delayed imports. More than 300 people are reported to have died by starvation in the past months according to civic and church groups. As a result of the food shortages, maize of this year's season is being consumed green in the fields, which is likely to affect supplies later in marketing year 2002/2003 (April/May). WFP launched in February an Emergency Operation aiming to distribute 11 400 tonnes of food aid to assist a population of 301 000. WFP plans to distribute 3 000 tonnes before the next harvest.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total | |
|
Previous five years average production |
2 |
78 |
2 084 |
2 164 |
Previous five years average imports |
41 |
1 |
85 |
127 |
|
2001/02 Domestic Availability |
3 |
45 |
1 901 |
1 949 |
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
2 |
61 |
1 770 |
1 833 |
2001 Production (rice in milled terms) |
2 |
40 |
1 770 |
1 812 |
Possible stock drawdown |
1 |
5 |
131 |
137 |
|
2001/02 Utilization |
40 |
45 |
1 989 |
2 074 |
Food use |
40 |
32 |
1 761 |
1 833 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
16 |
16 |
Non-food use |
- |
12 |
228 |
240 |
Exports or re-exports |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2001/02 Import Requirement |
37 |
- |
88 |
125 |
Anticipated commercial imports |
35 |
- |
83 |
118 |
Food aid needs |
2 |
- |
5 |
7 |
|
Current Aid Position |
||||
Food aid pledges |
2 |
- |
5 |
7 |
of which: delivered |
2 |
- |
5 |
7 |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
16 |
16 |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
16 |
16 |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
3 |
2 |
132 |
137 |
Indexes |
||||
2001 Production as % of average: |
85 | |||
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: |
98 |
