ReliefWeb

REGIONAL SUMMARY

♦ 2012 SADC cereal production down by 7% … Revised estimates indicate a 2012 cereal production of 31.47 million tonnes, which represents a 7% drop over the 2011 harvest of 33.81 million tonnes. However the current production is 2% above the 5-year average of 30.78 million tonnes.(Tables 1)

♦ Revised SADC cereal deficit up to 5.55 million tonnes… Latest assessments indicate a regional cereal deficit of 5.55 million tonnes; a significant increase from a revised deficit of 0.21 million tonnes during the 2011/12 marketing year. This increase is mostly due to large cereal deficits in Angola (1.34 million tonnes), Mozambique (1.86 million tonnes) South Africa (1.41 million tonnes) and Zimbabwe (1.46 million tonnes). Only three countries have recorded overall cereal surpluses, namely, Malawi (0.56 million tonnes), Tanzania (0.19 million tonnes) and Zambia (1.11 million tonnes).(Tables 3 & 4)

♦ SADC maize harvest decreases slightly to 26.10 million tonnes from 27.31 million tonnes last year… Regional maize production has decreased by 4% from a revised 2011 harvest of 27.31 million tonnes to the current estimate of 26.10 million tonnes for the 2012 harvest.(Table 3 & 4)

♦ Regional Maize Balance analysis indicates a deficit of 0.64 million tonnes … The Region has recorded the first maize deficit since 2006/07 of about 0.64 million tonnes. Most of the countries in the Region recorded maize deficits except Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.(Table 4)

♦ Overall deficits are assessed for the other cereal commodities… Current assessments indicate regional deficits for wheat (-2.98 million tonnes), rice (-837,000 tonnes) and sorghum/millet (- 1.09 million tonnes). Member States have to import these food commodities from outside the region. (Table 3)

♦ Global Food Prices are expected to rise… Poor expected maize and wheat harvests in the United States of America have already led to increased global food prices. Member States with deficits are urged to import early.

♦ Some 5.48 million people at risk of food insecurity… Vulnerability assessments in some 8 Member States (Table 2) with National Vulnerability Assessment Committees indicate that 5.48 million people may require food and non-food humanitarian assistance during the 2012/13 marketing year; a significant increase from 3.93 million people last year. Assessments in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa also indicate high levels of vulnerable populations. The expected soaring food prices are likely to increase these numbers.