| Area: | 1.22 million sq.km |
| Climate: | Sub-tropical with rains concentrated in the summer months (November-April); occasional snow in winter over higher parts of plateau and Cape ranges; an average of 120 days frost in the interior plateau |
| Population: | 43.34 million (1997 estimate); GNP per caput U.S.$ 3 160 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Normally net food exporter, notably maize |
| Logistics: | Adequate port, rail and road facilities |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, wheat |
| Marketing year: | May/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 54 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The 1997 total cereal output is estimated at 12.5 million tons, 7 percent below the 1996 harvest, but above the average of the previous five years. Official final estimate of the maize crop indicate an output of 9 million tons, which is some 0.5 million tons higher than anticipated, due to better harvests in Free State, North-West and Gauteng provinces . The wheat crop is estimated at 2.79 million tons, compared to 2.70 million tons in 1996 which was itself above average.
As a result of the good 1997 harvest, the country may have up to 1 million tons of maize to export, with private traders allowed to export any amount of maize for the first time in decades following full deregulation. A large part of the available maize may be exported to countries in the sub-region that had reduced harvest this year, such as Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. However, given concerns over a possible drought later in the year due to the El Niño, some farmers may choose to store more of their grain until the situation gets clearer.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
1 835 |
3 |
8 830 |
10 668 |
|
Normal Exports |
434 |
367 |
1 717 |
2 518 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
2 793 |
62 |
9 706 |
12 561 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
2 793 |
3 |
9 659 |
12 455 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
2 793 |
2 |
9 659 |
12 454 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
60 |
47 |
107 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
3 293 |
512 |
10 158 |
13 963 |
|
Food Use |
2 410 |
482 |
4 466 |
7 358 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
403 |
30 |
4 192 |
4 625 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
400 |
- |
1 500 |
1 900 |
|
Possible stock build up |
80 |
- |
- |
80 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
500 |
450 |
452 |
1 402 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
500 |
450 |
452 |
1 402 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases for export |
- |
- |
38 |
38 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
56 |
11 |
103 |
170 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
117 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
- |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
- |
