Area:
|
96 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Southern half tropical wet, northern half tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March-November
|
Population:
|
2.85 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: n.a.
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
|
Logistics:
|
Ports and roads adequate
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Rice, roots and tubers, oils
|
Marketing year:
|
January/December; Lean season: July-August
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
48 percent
|
An FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Liberia late last year and found a significantly improved overall food situation. The Mission estimated paddy production in 1998 at 210 100 tonnes, up 25 percent on the estimate for 1997 and about 70 percent of the pre-civil strife 1986/90 average. Cassava production is estimated at 313 300 tonnes (fresh weight), which is 96 percent of the pre-crisis average. The main factors which contributed to the increase in production include an expansion in planted area as a result of the return of large numbers of farm families to their homes, increased yields due to greater access to NGO-supplied inputs (especially seeds and tools) and improved crop husbandry practices as more extension services become available. In addition, improved varieties of cassava have become more readily available from a number of NGO-supported projects. However, bad road conditions, eating habit as well as the lack of processing and preservation facilities, often lead to food insecurity during the "hungry" season that runs from late June to late October. Many of the food crops, including cassava, are highly perishable, due to the lack of storage and poor marketing capacity of the farmers.
Food assistance is delivered throughout almost the entire country and an improvement in the nutritional status of the population is reported but the country relies almost entirely on humanitarian assistance. Food assistance is provided to about 1 717 000 to IDPs and refugees from Sierra Leone. Organised repatriation is underway for about 480 000 Liberian refugees in neighbouring countries, and 80 000 have been repatriated. Resettlement of IDPs and returnee refugees is taking place in many villages and towns in the counties of Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Upper Lofa, Maryland and Sinoe. These are experiencing food deficit. On the basis of an estimated population of about 2.8 million in 1999, the Mission estimated that Liberia will need to import 155 000 tonnes of cereals to meet its consumption requirements. Commercial imports are anticipated at 100 000 tonnes of rice and 5 000 tonnes of wheat. The remaining 50 000 tonnes will need to be covered by food aid, estimated at 30 000 tonnes of wheat and 20 000 tonnes of maize products such as maize meal and CSB for distribution to vulnerable displaced people. Food aid in the form of rice is not foreseen.
|
Wheat
|
Rice
|
Coarse grains
|
Total
| |
|
Normal Production
|
-
|
78
|
1
|
79
|
Normal Imports
|
35
|
70
|
40
|
145
|
of which: Structural food aid
|
25
|
5
|
40
|
70
|
|
1999 Domestic Availability
|
11
|
148
|
1
|
160
|
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
210
|
1
|
211
|
1998 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
140
|
1
|
141
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
11
|
8
|
-
|
19
|
|
1999 Utilization
|
46
|
248
|
21
|
315
|
Food Use
|
44
|
223
|
20
|
287
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Non-food use
|
2
|
25
|
-
|
27
|
Exports or Re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
|
1999 Import Requirement
|
35
|
100
|
20
|
155
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
5
|
100
|
-
|
105
|
Food aid needs
|
30
|
-
|
20
|
50
|
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
Food aid pledges
|
3
|
-
|
4
|
7
|
of which: Delivered
|
3
|
-
|
4
|
7
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)
|
15
|
79
|
7
|
101
|
Indexes
|
||||
1998 production as % of normal:
|
267
| |||
1999 import requirement as % of normal:
|
107
| |||
1999 food aid requirement as % of normal:
|
71
|
