Due to a late start of the rainy season which delayed plantings, and subsequent erratic precipitation, the conditions of the maize crop, the only cereal grown, have been poor in most islands.
A joint FAO/CILSS/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission recently estimated the output from the maize crop, to be harvested until December, at some 5 000 tonnes mostly produced in Santiago Island (54 percent) and Fogo island (35 percent). This level of production is only one fourth of last year’s output and similar to the poor crops harvested in 1997 and 1998. Production of beans and potatoes will also be below normal.
The Mission estimated cereal import requirements for the marketing year 2002/03 at 108 518 tonnes. Taking into account an anticipated commercial cereal import of 33 250 tonnes and 37 300 tonnes of food aid pledges, the total uncovered deficit for the year is about 37 900 tonnes. Although the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement also in a year of normal production, the rural population, particularly in the semi-arid zones, could be severely affected.