REGIONAL SUMMARY
Seasonal rainfall performance has generally been good for most parts of the SADC region so far except for central and southern Mozambique, Lesotho, Tanzania and southern Madagascar where below average rains have been received.
Problems of access to inputs have been experienced in a number of SADC countries, but more seriously in Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Prices of fertilisers have more than doubled in most countries during the current crop season compared to last season.
Current assessment indicates that, as a result of good rains, areas planted to cereals may have increased in most countries, probably with the exception of Lesotho, Tanzania and South Africa. Below normal rains may have forced reduced area planted to cereals in Lesotho and Tanzania while low price of maize at world market is the reported reason for reduced area in South Africa.
Qualitative forecasts, so far, indicate an increase in cereal production in 2009 in most Member States compared to 2008 except for Lesotho, Tanzania and South Africa. Preliminary forecast in South Africa indicate a 15% reduction in maize in 2009.
The SADC cereal deficit for 2008/09 has been revised upwards from 1.01 million tonnes to 1.61 million tonnes (Tables 1, 2 and 3), mostly as a result of upward revision in requirements in South Africa. Food security remains precarious in Zimbabwe where the outbreak of cholera has further complicated the already poor food security situation in the country.
Humanitarian food and non-food aid is still required in a number of Member States. The situation in Zimbabwe needs special attention as recent UN reports indicate that over 7.0 million people require such aid in the country.