| Area: | 28 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet climate |
| Population: | 422 000 (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 510 (1996) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: September-November |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 12 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The staple foodcrops are sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains. Some 10 000 tonnes of wheat and rice are imported annually. The food aid requirement in 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 2 000 tonnes of wheat and rice.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| Normal Imports | 4 | 5 | - | 9 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Utilization | 4 | 5 | - | 9 |
| Food Use | 4 | 5 | - | 9 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | - | - |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 4 | 5 | - | 9 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 3 | 4 | - | 7 |
| Food aid needs | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 10 | 12 | - | 21 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | - | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 100 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 100 |
