FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.25
| Area: | 2 268 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south |
| Population: | 47.59 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$100 (1998) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south) |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 15 percent |
Agricultural activities continue to be disrupted by the persistent civil conflict particularly in the eastern Kivu provinces. In spite of adequate rains in this region, plantings of the 2002 second season crops were reduced due to intensification of fighting in the past months. By contrast, in the Region of Katanga, where better security conditions prevail, maize and beans crops have been reduced by dry weather that affected large growing areas. Reduced food production in neighbouring countries, following dry weather in most of southern Africa, give concern for a decline of food exports to the Katanga Region, particularly to the city of Lubumbashi with over 1 million inhabitants.
An agreement signed in late July committing Rwanda to withdraw its troops from DRC raises hopes of restoration of peace in the country. On the economic side, the resumption of the commercial traffic along the River Congo for the first time since the war broke out in August 1998, and the recent approval of a US$454 million World Bank loan for the rebuilding of transport infrastructure also rise hopes of a revitalization of the economic and trade activities.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 18 | 353 | 1 234 | 1 605 |
| Previous five years average imports | 145 | 50 | 52 | 247 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 18 | 220 | 1 194 | 1 432 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 18 | 326 | 1 194 | 1 538 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 18 | 217 | 1 194 | 1 429 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| 2002 Utilization | 158 | 270 | 1 254 | 1 682 |
| Food use | 150 | 228 | 990 | 1 367 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 8 | 43 | 264 | 315 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 140 | 50 | 60 | 250 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 140 | 50 | 8 | 198 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 52 | 52 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 1 | 52 | 53 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 52 | 52 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 3 | 5 | 21 | 29 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 96 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 101 |