The latest SADC Food Security Early Warning System report, released early July, projects an overall cereal production shortfall of more than 1.47 million metric tonnes for the 2004-05 season in the southern African region.

Namibia and Zimbabwe are expected to improve their cereal production during the same period.

Namibia is expected to increase its production by 34 percent compared to last year, while Zimbabwe has predicted a 53 percent increase.

But others will experience lower levels of total cereal production this year, Angola (8 percent), Botswana (15 percent), Lesotho (46 percent), Malawi (20 percent), and South Africa (7 percent).

Domestic levels in Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia will still allow them to export and, according to the report, their surplus will be sufficient to cover the import requirements of Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. (The Namibian)