FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.15

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  ANGOLA

Area:1 247 000 sq km
Climate:Coastal desert, south-west semi-arid, rest tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: September-May
Population:14.90 million (2002 estimate), G.N.P. per caput US$290 (2000)
Specific characteristics of the country:Low-income food-deficit country; infrastructure devastated by prolonged civil strife
Logistics:Inadequate port, rail and road facilities
Major foodcrops:Roots, tubers, maize, plantains
Marketing year:April/March; Lean season: January-April
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:35 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in May/June 2002 estimated the 2002 cereal harvest at 549 000 tonnes, slightly down on last year. Cassava production was estimated 7 percent higher at 5 620 000 tonnes. The cease-fire agreement signed in April between the UNITA and the Angolan Government came too late to make a significant difference to the area planted to foodcrops, which however increased by 6 percent from the previous year. The country was spared by the drought which affected much of southern Africa in the 2001/02 cropping season, although rains were uneven and late and yields of all crops generally below potential. Cereal import requirements for 2002/03 are estimated at 725 000 tonnes, of which 504 000 tonnes are expected as commercial imports and 221 000 tonnes as emergency food aid.

The number of people in urgent need of food assistance is estimated at 1.42 million. WFP plans to assist 1.24 million people, including IDPs with insufficient or no access to land, the families of UNITA soldiers, the vulnerable population in previously inaccessible areas and refugees returning to Angola.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2002/03 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)

 WheatRiceCoarse grainsTotal
     Previous five years average production57527539
     Previous five years average imports264104181549
2002/03 Domestic Availability-3546549
     2002 Production (rice in paddy terms)-4546550
     2002 Production (rice in milled terms)-3546549
     Possible stock drawdown----
2002/03 Utilization2801608341 274
     Food use2801607251 165
       of which: local purchase requirement--22
     Non-food use--109109
     Exports or re-exports----
     Possible stock build up----
2002/03 Import Requirement280157288725
     Anticipated commercial imports28015767504
     Food aid needs--221221
Current Aid Position    
     Food aid pledges21-6788
       of which: delivered--6262
     Donor-financed purchases--22
       of which: for local use--22
                        for export----
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)19114978
Indexes    
     2002 Production as % of average:   102
     2002/03 Import requirement as % of average:   132

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