FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2003 p.29
The main foodcrops are cassava and plantains but some maize is also produced (average 31 000 tonnes). The country imports commercially the bulk of its cereal requirement, estimated at around 88 000 tonnes in 2003.
| CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2003 MARKETING YEAR (January/December) | ||||
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse Grains | Total Cereals | |
| [ | thousand tonnes | ] | ||
| Previous year production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 1 | 31 | 32 |
| Previous five years average production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 1 | 32 | 33 |
| Previous year imports | 54 | 35 | 3 | 92 |
| Previous five years average imports | 47 | 35 | 2 | 84 |
| 2003 Domestic Availability | - | 1 | 31 | 32 |
| 2002 Production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 1 | 31 | 32 |
| 2002 Production (incl. milled rice) | - | 1 | 31 | 32 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 Utilization | 50 | 36 | 34 | 120 |
| Food use | 49 | 36 | 26 | 110 |
| Non-food use | 1 | - | 8 | 9 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 Import Requirement | 50 | 35 | 3 | 88 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | 35 | 3 | 88 |
| of which: received or contracted | - | 24 | - | 24 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 38 | 28 | 20 | 85 |
| Indexes | [ | percentage | ] | |
| 2002 Production compared to average (incl. paddy rice) | - | 100 | 97 | 97 |
| 2003 Import requirement compared to average | 106 | 100 | 150 | 105 |
| Cereal share of total calorie intake | 26 | |||
| Additional Information | ||||
| Major foodcrops | roots; tubers | |||
| Lean season | September-November | |||
| Population (000s) | 1 293 | |||
| GNP per capita in 2002 (US$): | 3 120 | |||