FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report - November 1997:

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Area:	28 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet climate
Population:	411 000 (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 380 (1995)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
Logistics:	Ports and roads inadequate
Major foodcrops:	Cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas
Marketing year:	January/December; Lean season: September-November
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	12 percent

CURRENT SITUATION
After seasonably limited rainfall in July and August, rains increased in September and became abundant over the entire country, allowing the planting of the second maize crop. The staple foodcrops are sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains. Some 10 000 tons of wheat and rice are imported annually. The food aid requirement in 1997 is estimated at 2 000 tons of wheat.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1997 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal Production	-	-	-	-
Normal Imports	5	5	-	10
of which: Structural food aid	2	2	-	4
1997 Domestic Availability	-	-	-	-
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms)	-	-	-	-
1996 Production (rice in milled terms)	-	-	-	-
Possible stock drawdown	-	-	-	-
1997 Utilization	5	5	-	10
Food Use	4	5	-	9
of which: local purchase requirement	-	-	-	-
Non-food use	-	-	-	-
Exports or Re-exports	-	-	-	-
Possible stock build up	1	-	-	1
1997 Import Requirement	5	5	-	10
Anticipated commercial imports	3	5	-	8
Food aid needs	2	-	-	2
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	1	-	1
of which: Delivered	-	-	-	-
Donor-financed purchases	-	-	-	-
of which: for local use	-	-	-	-
for export	-	-	-	-
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)	11	12	-	23
Indexes
1996 production as % of normal:				-
1997 import requirement as % of normal:				100
1997 food aid requirement as % of normal:				50