BURUNDI* (14 October)
Sowing of 2006A (secondary) season crops, maize, sorghum and beans in Burundi are nearly completed under near normal weather conditions. The 2005 annual cereal production has been estimated at 290 000 tonnes, about 4 percent better than the 2004 harvest. Production of banana and plantain is also forecast to improve by about 3 percent in 2005. With a decline in legumes, roots and tubers, total 2005 domestic food production in cereal equivalent is forecast to be about 1 percent less than last year. Total food import requirement in cereal equivalent is estimated at 444 000 tonnes. With anticipated commercial imports of 30 000 tonnes and food aid of 80 000 tonnes, there remains an uncovered food deficit of 334 000 tonnes, necessitating further international assistance. So far only 33 500 tonnes of food aid has been received.
According to the country’s Early Warning System, prices in Bujumbura market in September 2005 were higher for sweet potatoes (81 percent) and cassava flour (33 percent) compared to the same month a year ago reflecting reduction in supplies. On the other hand maize prices were recorded to be 6 percent lower as result of better harvest this year. The cost of a “food basket” has increased by 18 percent compared to the same time last year. Despite some localized improvements, food insecurity persists in northern, eastern and southern provinces due to the reduced harvests. According to UNHCR there are about 7 500 to 8 500 Rwandan asylum seekers in Burundi and the trends in repatriation have been increasing steadily. These and the host families require assistance. WFP distributed on average 7 000 tonnes of food per month to about 609 000 beneficiaries from January to May 2005.