BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 387 000 sq.km
Climate: Centre and north-east tropical wet-dry; south and west semi-arid. One rainy season
(November-March)
Population: 11.3 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 490 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country: Land-locked country; exporter and importer of grain
Logistics: Exports and imports through Mozambique or South Africa
Major foodcrops: Maize, wheat, millet, sorghum
Marketing year: April/March; Lean season: February-April
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 66 percent
CURRENT SITUATION
The harvesting of coarse grains is complete. Total cereal production is expected to slightly exceed 3 million tons, which is above-average. Unseasonable rainfall in late May to mid-June slowed the drying of grains and marketing activities in several central and eastern areas. Nonetheless, the maize crop stands at 2.5 million tons, which is slightly below earlier estimates but still three times above 1995 and one of the highest levels reached since the 1980s. The output of sorghum and millet is also expected to be above-average, at 107 000 and 110 000 tons respectively. Reflecting the above-average rainfall recorded in major producing areas, the winter wheat crop is expected to exceed 300 000 tons this season, which is above-average and more than double last year’s output.
The food supply situation is expected to improve considerably during the 1996/97 marketing year. Maize supply is expected to cover requirements, including the replenishment of strategic grain reserves, substitute for the sorghum/millet deficit and generate an exportable surplus. The government has recently announced plans to remove restrictions on wheat and soybean exports in line with on-going market liberalization measures. However, the state-owned Grain Marketing Board would maintain its monopoly on the export of maize, the country's main staple crop.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 240 | 3 | 1 880 | 2 123 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 55 | 20 | - | 75 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1996 Production | 300 | - | 2 731 | 3 031 |
| 1996/97 Utilization | 345 | 20 | 2 731 | 3 096 |
| Food use | 320 | 15 | 1 590 | 1 925 |
| Non-food use | 15 | - | 671 | 686 |
| Possible stock build-up | 10 | 5 | 270 | 285 |
| Exports | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| 1996/97 Import Requirement | 45 | 20 | - | 65 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 20 | - | 65 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 2 | - | 5 | 7 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases for export | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 28 | 1 | 135 | 164 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1996 production as % of normal: | 143 | |||
| 1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: | 87 | |||
| 1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | - | |||