| Area: | 784 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid |
| Population: | 18.53 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 80 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; exposed to tropical storms and cyclones |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated rail and road transport fleet; lack of fuel and spares; poor roads; substantial deliveries by coastal vessels; disruption by guerrillas |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize |
| Marketing year: | March/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 53 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Preparation for the 1997/98 crop season has started against a background of serious concerns over a possible El Niño-related drought. The government has initiated an information campaign to raise the population’s awareness, particularly of the need to prepare contingency plans. Following the 1997 good cereal harvest of 1.53 million tons, including a record maize output of 1.04 million tons, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Cereal import requirements are estimated at 205 000 tons of rice and wheat, compared to over 300 000 tons in the previous years. Food aid, estimated at about 112 000 tons of grain, is primarily for vulnerable people in remote areas and in regions affected by floods earlier in the year. Pledges to date amount to 163 000 tons, of which 54 000 tons have been delivered.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
50 |
458 |
508 |
|
Normal Imports |
102 |
60 |
244 |
406 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
102 |
52 |
140 |
294 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
- |
118 |
1 351 |
1 469 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
177 |
1 351 |
1 528 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
118 |
1 351 |
1 469 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
144 |
179 |
1 360 |
1 683 |
|
Food Use |
137 |
170 |
1 195 |
1 502 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
(10) |
(10) |
|
Non-food use |
7 |
9 |
162 |
178 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
3 |
3 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
144 |
61 |
9 |
214 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
72 |
30 |
- |
102 |
|
Food aid needs |
72 |
31 |
9 |
112 |
|
of which emergency |
- |
- |
9 |
9 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
74 |
18 |
71 |
163 |
|
of which: Delivered |
27 |
7 |
20 |
54 |
|
Donor-financed local purchases |
- |
- |
10 |
10 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
7 |
9 |
65 |
81 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
301 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
53 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
38 | |||
