Area:
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2 268 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south
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Population:
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47.12 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US $ 110 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea
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Logistics:
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Roads inadequate
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
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Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south)
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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15 percent
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The food supply situation continues to deteriorate due to persistent insecurity. Intensified fighting, particularly in eastern parts, has further disrupted all economic and agricultural activities and resulted in fresh waves of population displacements. The number of IDPs is currently estimated at 2 million, whose food and nutritional situation is critical. Recent surveys conducted by non-governmental organisations indicated that up to 21 percent of the population is suffering from severe malnutrition in the eastern province of North-Kivu. The situation could deteriorate with an expected cassava crop failure in eastern parts due to pests and diseases. The food situation is also difficult in the main cities of the country, mainly Kinshasa with a population of 6-7 million. An FAO Mission last October estimated Kinshasa's food deficit in 2 000 at 1 million tonnes. In general, factors constraining food supply to Kinshasa and other cities include the extreme state of disrepair of the road infrastructure; police/military harassment of shippers, traders and farmers; the cut-off of food supply from Equateur and Eastern Provinces; and the scarcity of fuel due to a shortage of foreign exchange.
Distribution of humanitarian assistance remains constrained by persistent insecurity and very poor road conditions. WFP plans to increase its distributions of food aid to cover 1.2 million people, including some 70 000 Angolan refugees, and has recently appealed for US$112 million for the relief operations.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 19 | 388 | 1 275 | 1 682 |
| Previous five years average imports | 131 | 44 | 42 | 217 |
| 2001 Domestic Availability | 18 | 240 | 1 254 | 1 512 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 18 | 360 | 1 194 | 1 572 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 18 | 240 | 1 194 | 1 452 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| 2001 Utilization | 158 | 290 | 1 314 | 1 762 |
| Food Use | 150 | 247 | 1 050 | 1 447 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 8 | 43 | 264 | 315 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 Import Requirement | 140 | 50 | 60 | 250 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 140 | 50 | 54 | 244 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 3 | 5 | 23 | 31 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 93 | |||
| 2001 import requirement as % of average: | 115 |
