The decline in marketed food crop production and the rapid growth of the urban population have caused a food crisis in the cities. By the 1980s, urban dwellers depended almost entirely on cereal imports, and the around 600,000 rural displaced persons were completely dependent on food aid from foreign donors. Local production of cereals met only half the national requirement in 1986 and totaled only about 305,000 tons--about 61 % of the yearly average in the 1970s. Decreased production was the result of general problems associated with the war, including deteriorating transportation and a deficiency of market incentives for peasant producers. By the late 1980s, malnutrition was widespread.

Similarly, farm animal production has declined. Both cattle and pigs are raised, but production fell from 36,000 tons in 1973 to only 5,200 tons in 1980s. This tremendous decrease was the result of a combination of factors, including the departure of the commercial farmers, increasing disruption from the war, and the deterioration of facilities and services, particularly vaccinations, crucial for farm animal production. During their occupation of Cunene Province in 1975, the South African troops allegedly destroyed some 1,500 water holes for cattle, severely damaging farm animal production in that region.