Area: |
4 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Semi-arid; rainfall increases with
altitude; rainy season: July-December |
Population: |
439 500 (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per
caput: US$1 330 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
archipelago |
Logistics: |
Port capacity and roads adequate |
Major foodcrops: |
Maize, rice, pulses |
Marketing year: |
November/October; Lean season: n.a.
since 90 percent of requirements covered by imports |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
57 percent |
Unfavourable growing conditions in August or early September affected recently planted maize crops. However, crop conditions improved significantly with heavy rains received in late September and October on most islands. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October estimated the 2000 maize production at 18 500 tonnes, which is significantly below 1999 record crop but remains well above average.
Following two successive good harvests, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, local production covers only about a quarter of consumption requirement and the country relies on imports and food aid to cover its needs. With available stocks and planned commercial imports or food aid for next months, markets should remain well supplied and prices remain stable. The cereal import requirement for the 2000/01 marketing year is estimated at 88 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 53 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | - | 11 | 11 |
| Previous five years average imports | 20 | 26 | 38 | 84 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | - | 2 | 19 | 21 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 23 | 32 | 54 | 109 |
| Food Use | 22 | 31 | 51 | 104 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 23 | 30 | 35 | 88 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 15 | 15 | 35 |
| Food aid needs | 18 | 15 | 20 | 53 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 7 | - | 7 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 49 | 69 | 113 | 230 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 168 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 105 |
