| Area: | 582 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rains in October-March; tropical cyclones |
| Population: | 15.72 million (1997 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 230 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February/March |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 60 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
An FAO/WFP Mission visited Madagascar in August/September 1997 to assess the damage caused by locusts to crops in the southern part of the country and to evaluate implications for the food supply situation. The Mission found that the southern coastal zone was the area most affected by the combined effect of locusts and poor rainfall, leading to the loss of most of the maize crop and a sharp reduction in the output of other crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes. However, the production shortfall in the southern part of the country has been offset by good harvests in other parts where over 90 percent of national cereal output is produced. Nationally, the Mission estimated the 1997 total cereal harvest at 2.7 million tons, about the same as in 1996. Cassava and sweet potato production were estimated at some 2.83 million tons, down 1.3 percent. Cereal import requirements for the 1997/98 marketing year are forecast at 168 000 tons, three-fourths of which is expected to be supplied through commercial channels and the remainder as food aid. The Mission considered the food supply situation as very precarious in the southern coastal areas and recommended urgent food assistance in the form of food-for-work to an estimated 472 000 people for an initial period of 3 months.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
7 |
2 476 |
152 |
2 635 |
|
Normal Imports |
48 |
53 |
10 |
111 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
13 |
11 |
10 |
34 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
5 |
1 727 |
176 |
1 908 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
5 |
2 528 |
176 |
2 709 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
5 |
1 685 |
176 |
1 866 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
42 |
- |
42 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
72 |
1 828 |
176 |
2 076 |
|
Food Use |
71 |
1 693 |
141 |
1 905 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
135 |
23 |
159 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
12 |
12 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
67 |
101 |
- |
168 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
60 |
65 |
- |
125 |
|
Food aid needs |
7 |
36 |
- |
43 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
18 |
11 |
6 |
35 |
|
of which: Delivered |
2 |
10 |
2 |
14 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
4 |
108 |
9 |
121 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
103 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
151 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
126 |
