Area:
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627 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Semi-arid in the south; rest arid
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Population:
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6.40 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput; n.a.
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country
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Logistics:
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Inadequate port facilities; serious shortage of fuel and spare parts
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, sorghum, sesame
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Marketing year:
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August/July; Lean season: June-August
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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45 percent
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Harvesting of the 1999/2000 secondary "Deyr" cereal crop, normally accounting for some 25 percent of annual cereal production, is completed, while planting of the 2000/01 main season cereal crop is about to start. The total cereal production for the 1999/2000 Deyr season is estimated at about 108 000 tonnes, 53 percent above the post-civil war (1993-1998) average. However, the main 1999 "Gu" season, harvested until last September, was estimated by an FAO/WFP Mission at 135 683 tonnes of cereals, about 32 percent below the post-war average due to low and poorly distributed rains, pests and displacement of farmers.
Despite expected food supply improvement in parts of southern Somalia with better Deyr harvest, nearly 526 000 people in 6 regions are facing severe food shortages with an estimated food aid needs of over 14 200 tonnes. Hardest hit are farmers in Huddur, Wajid and Rab-Dure districts in Bakool Region where many have left their villages in search of food assistance. Furthermore, the food supply situation remains tight for the agro-pastoralists in Gedo, Bay and Hiran regions due to successive poor harvests and displacements.
Elsewhere, in north-western Somalia (Somaliland), despite a growing concern of fast depletion of pasture and water due to high influx of pastoralists from neighbouring Ethiopia, overall livestock and food supply conditions are stable. In north-eastern Somalia (Puntland), livestock conditions improved in parts with good Deyr season rains, but increased livestock concentration and over grazing is a concern.
Food aid deliveries to some regions improved during January 2000 with nearly 1 300 tonnes distributed in Bay region alone. However, a slow down of relief effort was reported in February due to attacks on humanitarian workers.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 13 | 550 | 563 |
| Normal Imports | 70 | 60 | 10 | 140 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 40 | 20 | 10 | 70 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | - | 6 | 242 | 248 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 2 | 242 | 244 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 1 | 242 | 243 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 160 | 96 | 302 | 558 |
| Food Use | 135 | 96 | 287 | 518 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 20 | - | 15 | 35 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 160 | 90 | 60 | 310 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 125 | 75 | 40 | 240 |
| Food aid needs | 35 | 15 | 20 | 70 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 6 | - | 35 | 41 |
| of which: Delivered | 2 | - | 21 | 23 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 22 | 16 | 48 | 86 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 43 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 221 | |||
| 1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 100 |
