The active commercial sector can easily cover the projected deficit of 110,000 MT, and the Government of Namibia appears to have sufficient resources to address the needs of the drought-affected population. South Africa's Export Capacity Recovers South Africa is generally a major supplier of maize and other cereals to the rest of southern Africa. Another 210,000 MT of other grains is also likely to be exported. The projected cereal import requirement of about 61,000 MT is only 35 percent of the 1995 level and is well within the country's capacity. Commercial and food aid imports delayed from last year continue to enter the country, further reducing the need for additional imports.
Pasture conditions are also good throughout the country.
Local cereal production should be sufficient to meet normal consumption requirements. Some imports may be necessary if the Government of Zambia chooses to bring the Strategic Grain Reserve to its target level of 50,000 MT of maize. The country also produced 318,000 MT of sorghum and millet, of which 244,000 MT came from the communal sector. Zimbabwe has enough maize to meet its export target of 279,000 MT while building a large strategic reserve. Only a few areas, concentrated in the middle Save River Valley and in Beitbridge, experienced below-average production leading to heightened food insecurity.