CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) (12 October)
Rainfall has been abundant and widespread in general since the beginning of the growing season in March. Following previous distributions in late 2003 and early 2004, FAO distributed groundnuts, maize and rice seeds to some 80 farmers associations in early May in the provinces of Lobaye, Mbomou and Basse-Kotto, which were adversely affected by last year’s rebellion. However, in spite of good weather conditions and seed distributions, a strong agricultural recovery is not expected this year due to persistent insecurity.
Cotton production, a major source of income for farmers, was also strongly affected by the crisis, mainly significant population displacement from the cotton-producing region of Ouham Pendé in the north. The cotton sector almost collapsed, production having dropped from 24 500 tonnes in 2000/01 to only 1 500 tonnes in 2003/04. Harvesting, marketing and ginning of the 12 500 tonnes produced in 2002/03 have been disrupted. Inflation jumped to 7 percent in 2003 due to higher food prices resulting from transport disruptions, while GDP growth fell by 7 percent. Although most of the 230 000 IDPs have returned home, an estimated 41 000 refugees from CAR are still living in Chad.
Imports of cereals in 2004 are tentatively estimated at some 46 000 tonnes, slightly lower than last year’s requirement.