Area: | 2 000 sq.km |
Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; one hot rainy season with cyclone probability; June-October dry and cool |
Population: | 0.729 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 470 (1995) |
Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago of four small islands |
Logistics: | - |
Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots, tubers, bananas and coconuts |
Marketing year: | January/December |
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 44 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Most of the countrys agricultural land is planted to cash crops, bananas and root crops. Only one-quarter of the cereal requirement is produced locally and, consequently, there is a structural deficit of some 46 000 tons of cereals, largely covered by commercial imports. Food aid needs are estimated at 10 000 tons.
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
Normal Production |
- |
17 |
4 |
21 |
Normal Imports |
5 |
35 |
- |
40 |
of which: Structural food aid |
1 |
5 |
- |
6 |
1998 Domestic Availability |
- |
11 |
4 |
15 |
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
17 |
4 |
21 |
1998 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
11 |
4 |
15 |
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1998 Utilization |
6 |
51 |
4 |
61 |
Food Use |
6 |
49 |
2 |
57 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Non-food use |
- |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1998 Import Requirement |
6 |
40 |
- |
46 |
Anticipated commercial imports |
5 |
31 |
- |
36 |
Food aid needs |
1 |
9 |
- |
10 |
Current Aid Position | ||||
Food aid pledges |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
8 |
68 |
3 |
79 |
Indexes | ||||
1998 production as % of normal: |
100 |
|||
1998 import requirement as % of normal: |
115 |
|||
1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
167 |