FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report - August 1997

COMOROS


Area: 2 000 sq.km
Climate: Tropical wet-dry; one hot rainy season with cyclone probability; June-October dry and cool
Population: 0.677 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 470 (1995)
Specific characteristics of the country: Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago of four small islands
Logistics: -
Major foodcrops: Rice, roots, tubers, bananas and coconuts
Marketing year: January/December
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 44 percent


CURRENT SITUATION
Most of the country’s agricultural land is planted to cash crops, bananas and root crops. Only one-quarter of the cereal requirement is produced locally and, consequently, there is a structural deficit of some 44 000 tons of cereals, largely covered by commercial imports. Food aid needs are estimated at 10 000 tons.



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


Wheat

Rice

Coarse grains

Total

Normal Production (rice in paddy terms)

-

15

4

19

Normal imports (incl. re-exports)

3

38

2

43

of which: Structural food aid

2

5

1

8

1997 Domestic availability

-

10

4

14

1996 Production(rice in paddy terms)

-

15

4

19

1996 Production(rice in milled terms)

-

10

4

14

Possible stock drawdown

-

-

-

-

1997 Utilization

4

50

4

58

Food use

4

48

2

54

Non-food use

-

2

2

4

1997 Import Requirement

4

40

-

44

Anticipated commercial imports

3

31

-

34

Food aid needs

1

9

-

10

Current Aid Position





Food aid pledges

-

4

-

4

of which: Delivered

-

1

-

1

Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)

6

71

3

80

Indexes





1996 production as % of normal:

100

1997 import requirement as % of normal:

102

1997 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):

125

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