| Area: | 342 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet climate in north, tropical wet-dry in south with main rainy season in October-April |
| Population: | 2.69 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 680 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; tropical coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports adequate; roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, fruit |
| Marketing year: | July/June; Lean season: September-November |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 19 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
More than 300 000 people left Brazzaville as a result of the recent civil strife and returned to their home villages, the majority moving towards Pointe-Noire. Food aid is currently distributed to about 60 000 vulnerable persons in this area. Food assistance is also provided in Brazzaville to about 55 000 refugees from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as displaced Congolese. In Loukolela and Bilolo, close to 10 000 refugees continue to receive food assistance.
After seasonably dry conditions in July and early August, rainfall resumed in mid-August and became abundant over the north and the centre in late August and September, allowing the planting of maize. As the main growing season started in September in the north and the centre, agricultural activities and notably the planting of maize, might have been affected by insecurity and the lack of seeds and inputs usually transported from Brazzaville or Pointe Noire. This might affect the cereal output, but marginally the roots and tubers production which is the bulk of the foodcrops production. Fishing activities on the Congo river, which represent a substantial part of agricultural income, are also hampered by the decrease of trade activities with these two main cities. Production of staple foodcrops (roots, tubers and plantains) amounts to about 650 000 tons. Cereal production in 1997 was estimated at some 26 000 tons, mainly maize. For the 1997/98 marketing year (July/June), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 113 000 tons, mostly wheat, including a structural food aid requirement of 2 000 tons. FAO will participate in an Inter-Agency Needs Assessment Mission planned for December.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
1 |
22 |
23 |
|
Normal Imports |
80 |
30 |
2 |
112 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
1 |
6 |
- |
7 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
10 |
1 |
25 |
36 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
1 |
25 |
26 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
1 |
25 |
26 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
10 |
- |
- |
10 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
90 |
31 |
28 |
149 |
|
Food Use |
88 |
31 |
24 |
143 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
2 |
- |
4 |
6 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
80 |
30 |
3 |
113 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
80 |
28 |
3 |
111 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
8 |
- |
8 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
33 |
11 |
9 |
53 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
113 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
100 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
29 |
