Area:
|
582 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: October-March; tropical cyclones
|
Population:
|
15.2 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$250 (1999)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country
|
Logistics:
|
Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit
|
Marketing year:
|
April/March; Lean season: February/March
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
60 percent
|
Below-average rains in northern and central parts during February and first dekad of March, which followed abundant rains in previous months, affected growing conditions for the 2001 rice crop. The overall prospects for the paddy harvest, starting from April, are uncertain; yield reductions are anticipated in parts. By contrast, in the southern maize growing areas abundant precipitation since the second dekad of February improved prospects for the maize crop which had been affected by previous dry weather. However, the rains may have arrived too late to prevent yield reductions and the harvest could be reduced for the second consecutive year. Last year, the southern areas were affected by a severe drought that caused a one-quarter decline in the maize output.
The overall food supply situation is tight following the poor 2000 rice crop. In southern parts, food assistance is required for 240 000 vulnerable people who obtained a poor harvest last season.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 8 | 2 518 | 174 | 2 700 |
| Previous five years average imports | 72 | 75 | 6 | 153 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 10 | 1 522 | 140 | 1 672 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 10 | 2 194 | 140 | 2 344 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 10 | 1 492 | 140 | 1 642 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 30 | - | 30 |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 78 | 1 942 | 170 | 2 190 |
| Food Use | 78 | 1 823 | 152 | 2 053 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Non-food use | - | 119 | 18 | 137 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 68 | 420 | 30 | 518 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 66 | 350 | 10 | 426 |
| Food aid needs | 2 | 70 | 20 | 92 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| of which: Delivered | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 5 | 114 | 10 | 129 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 87 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 339 |
