FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.1, April 2001 UGANDA 46

Area:	200 000 sq.km
Climate:	North-east is semi-arid, rest of the country is tropical wet-dry; main rainy period is March-October
Population:	23.37 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$320 (1999)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country
Logistics:	Ports: Mombasa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); roads and railways inadequate
Major foodcrops:	Roots, tubers, plantains, pulses, maize, millet, sorghum
Marketing year:	January/December; Lean season: April-May
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	35 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Harvesting of the 2000/01 second season cereal crops is completed. The output is expected to be above average reflecting well distributed rains during the season. Rains in February have allowed land preparation and planting of the 2001 main season crop in most areas. The medium term forecast for March to May 2001, predicts an above-normal rainfall over southern Uganda but a near-normal to below-normal rainfall over northern parts.

The output of the main season crop, harvested from the middle of 2000, was below average due to drought and erratic rains in various parts of the country. Cereal production in 2000 is estimated to be about 12 percent below average at 1.6 million tonnes.

The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, the situation remains precarious in districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Bundibugyo, and parts of Kasese and Kabarole, mainly due to last year's poor harvest and/or insecurity. WFP's food assistance benefits an estimated 1.1 million IDPs, refugees, and drought-affected people in the country.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2001 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Previous five years average production	9	79	1 743	1 831
Previous five years average imports	31	6	45	82
2001 Domestic Availability	14	51	1 550	1 615
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms)	9	77	1 510	1 596
2001 Production (rice in milled terms)	9	51	1 510	1 570
Possible stock drawdown	5	-	40	45
2001 Utilization	34	57	1 600	1 691
Food Use	33	57	1 237	1 327
of which: local purchase requirement	-	-	-	-
Non-food use	1	-	263	264
Exports or Re-exports	-	-	100	100
Possible stock build up	-	-	-	-
2001 Import Requirement	20	6	50	76
Anticipated commercial imports	11	4	-	15
Food aid needs	9	2	50	61
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	13	-	1	14
of which: Delivered	-	-	1	1
Donor-financed purchases	-	-	-	-
of which: for local use	-	-	-	-
for export	-	-	-	-
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)	2	3	55	59
Indexes
2001 production as % of average:				87
2001 import requirement as % of average:				93