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Area:
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1.22 million sq.km
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Climate:
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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
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|
Population:
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45.28 million (1999 estimate); GNP per caput US$ 3 400
(1997)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Normally net food exporter, notably maize
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Logistics:
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Adequate port, rail and road facilities
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, wheat
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Marketing year:
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May/April; Lean season: February-April
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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54 percent
|
Harvesting of the 1999 wheat crop is underway. Prospects are poor. Latest forecasts point to a crop of 1.5 million tonnes, almost unchanged from last year and below average. This mainly reflects reduced plantings
Planting of the 1999/2000 coarse grains is underway. Despite an expected increase in plantings, erratic precipitation in late October/ November has delayed field operations in parts.
Final estimates of the 1999 maize harvest indicate an output of 7 million tonnes, below the 1998 output of 7.6 million tonnes and well below the average of the past five years. The crop was affected by excessive precipitation early in the season, which were followed by prolonged dry weather. After two consecutive poor maize harvests, the country's exportable surpluses in marketing year 1999/2000 (April/March) has been sharply reduced.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
2 084 |
2 |
8 603 |
10 689 |
|
Normal Exports |
185 |
- |
1 893 |
2 078 |
|
1999/2000 Domestic Availability |
1 545 |
2 |
7 594 |
9 141 |
|
1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
1 545 |
3 |
7 507 |
9 055 |
|
1999 Production (rice in milled terms) |
1 545 |
2 |
7 507 |
9 054 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
87 |
87 |
|
1999/2000 Utilization |
2 745 |
449 |
8 571 |
11 765 |
|
Food Use |
2 524 |
399 |
4 531 |
7 454 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
171 |
50 |
3 870 |
4 091 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
50 |
- |
170 |
220 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1999/2000 Import Requirement |
1 200 |
447 |
977 |
2 624 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
1 200 |
447 |
977 |
2 624 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Current Aid Position |
||||
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Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
62 |
62 |
|
of which: for export |
- |
- |
62 |
62 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
56 |
9 |
100 |
165 |
|
Indexes |
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1999 production as % of normal: |
85 |
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