| Area: | 230 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north |
| Population: | 17.99 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 390 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-June |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 27 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Rainfall started in early March in the south and became abundant over the entire country towards the end of the month. As a result, the growing season started quite late. Rains remained abundant and widespread until the third dekad of June when they decreased significantly. Rainfall decreased in the south and the centre during July and the two first dekads of August, and increased from late August to September. Although August is usually a dry period in the south, the dry period was longer than usual this year, and is likely to have affected the rice and maize production in this area, as well as delayed the planting of the second maize crop. Millet and sorghum are currently harvested in the north and the prospects are favourable.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. Some Togolese refugees still remain in Ghana after large repatriations in 1996. Also about 135 000 Liberian refugees, whose nutritional status is reported to be adequate, are present in the country. The 1997 cereal import requirement is estimated at 387 000 tons, mostly wheat and rice.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
165 |
1 410 |
1 575 |
|
Normal Imports |
175 |
200 |
15 |
390 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
60 |
40 |
12 |
112 |
|
1997 Domestic Availability |
- |
144 |
1 554 |
1 698 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
216 |
1 554 |
1 770 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
144 |
1 554 |
1 698 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997 Utilization |
180 |
344 |
1 561 |
2 085 |
|
Food Use |
177 |
318 |
1 189 |
1 684 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
3 |
26 |
342 |
371 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
30 |
30 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997 Import Requirement |
180 |
200 |
7 |
387 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
130 |
180 |
- |
310 |
|
Food aid needs |
50 |
20 |
7 |
77 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
57 |
10 |
9 |
76 |
|
of which: Delivered |
57 |
7 |
9 |
73 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
10 |
18 |
66 |
94 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
112 |
|||
|
1997 import requirement as % of normal: |
99 |
|||
|
1997 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
69 |
