| Area: | 246 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March/June to October/November |
| Population: | 6.9 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 550 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; mountainous coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots and tubers, coarse grains |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Rains started in late March in the extreme south-east, increased in the south in April and became abundant over the entire country from May to September. Cumulative precipitation as of the end of September is above average. Planted areas are normal to below normal The main food crops are currently being harvested and following favourable growing conditions, the 1997 output is expected to be normal to above normal. Markets are well supplied with both local and imported rice. The Government has imposed a ban on potato imports to support the prices of locally produced products. The cereal import requirement for 1997 is estimated at 375 000 tons. Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 545 000, most of whom assisted with emergency food aid. With the new political developments in Liberia, refugees are likely to begin returning.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
720 |
200 |
920 |
|
Normal Imports |
- |
110 |
260 |
370 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
1 |
32 |
2 |
35 |
|
1997 Domestic Availability |
5 |
446 |
227 |
678 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
668 |
222 |
890 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
446 |
222 |
668 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
5 |
- |
5 |
10 |
|
1997 Utilization |
115 |
706 |
232 |
1 053 |
|
Food Use |
112 |
616 |
192 |
920 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
3 |
90 |
40 |
133 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997 Import Requirement |
110 |
260 |
5 |
375 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
105 |
250 |
- |
355 |
|
Food aid needs |
5 |
10 |
5 |
20 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
3 |
- |
3 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
16 |
89 |
28 |
133 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
97 |
|||
|
1997 import requirement as % of normal: |
101 |
|||
|
1997 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
57 |
