| 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
Despite a late start of rains, which delayed the transplanting of rice in some areas, favourable rains were received in most areas in December and January. The area planted to rice and other cereals is reported to be normal but may be somewhat reduced as a result of the delayed start of the season. While recent precipitation received in February will be beneficial to crops, the major threat to the 1998 crops to be harvested in March/April is the persistence of swarms of African Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria capito) in several regions of the country. Locust movements are currently reported in the southern and south-western parts of the country but also in western and central major rice growing areas. Aerial and ground control operations are in progress.
However, given the potential impact of locusts on crops, harvest prospects are uncertain and crop losses could range from 10 to 30 percent of the 1997 harvest. This would lead to a sharp increase in cereal import requirements for which emergency food assistance would be required, particularly in drought-prone southern areas where the situation of vulnerable groups tends to be exacerbated by transport difficulties and low purchasing power of the population. Emergency food aid requirements are expected to be channelled through food-for-work and vulnerable group feeding activities.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
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 |
9 |
1 700 |
156 |
1 865 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
9 |
2 500 |
156 |
2 665 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
9 |
1 700 |
156 |
1 865 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
76 |
1 801 |
156 |
2 033 |
|
Food Use |
75 |
1 776 |
121 |
1 972 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
3 |
3 |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
10 |
23 |
34 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
15 |
12 |
27 |
|
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 |
14 |
12 |
4 |
30 |
|
of which: Delivered |
2 |
11 |
4 |
17 |
|
Donor-financed local purchases |
- |
- |
3 |
3 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
5 |
127 |
9 |
141 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
101 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
151 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
126 |
