SA tops list of WFP source markets

The World Food Programme bought a record 552 000 metric tons of food in southern Africa in 2008, with South Africa its major source of supply. SA led the charge (430 000 metric tons; US$141 million), followed by Mozambique (35 000 metric tons; US$13.9 million), Malawi (32 200 metric tons; US$15.6 million), Zambia (31 700 metric tons; US$10.8 million), Lesotho (12 100 metric tons; US$3.8 million), Zimbabwe (6 200 metric tons; US$3.7 million) and Namibia (4 700 metric tons; US$1.1 million). Large surpluses in South Africa helped to make the southern Africa region a costeffective market, according to Mustapha Darboe, WFP regional director for Southern, Eastern and Central Africa. Purchases in southern Africa amounted to one fifth of WFP’s total food purchases in 2008. The previous record was set in 2005 when WFP bought just over 500 000 metric tons in southern Africa for US$100 million, which when compared with the US$190 million bought in 2008, illustrates the massive increase in the price of staple foods.