Last year, the southern areas were affected by a severe drought that caused a onequarter decline in the maize output. The overall food supply situation is tight following the poor 2000 rice crop. Continuous heavy rains in February and March resulted in serious floods in 13 of the country's 27 districts, particularly in southern areas along the Shire River. The Government has appealed for international assistance to cope with the disaster. However, persistent rains are hampering distributions.
Many areas are inaccessible as a result of damage to roads and bridges.
Prospects for the 2001 cereal crops have deteriorated with the excessive rains of the past months that are likely to have reduced yields. A dry spell and high temperatures in January in some southern districts, mainly Balaka, Zomba and Mwanza, also negatively affected yields in these areas. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory reflecting last year's good harvest and adequate stocks. Also at household level the food security situation is reported to be generally satisfactory. High water levels in the Zambezi and other rivers, due to torrential rains in neighbouring countries, as well as continuing heavy rains in central provinces since the last dekad of January, have resulted in floods in the central provinces of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Tete.