Area:
|
230 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north
|
Population:
|
18.166 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 370 (1997)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
|
Logistics:
|
Ports and roads inadequate
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice
|
Marketing year:
|
January/December; Lean season: April-June
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
27 percent
|
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Aggregate 1998 cereal production is estimated at 1.78 million tonnes, which is slightly above 1997. Production has recovered in the extreme north, where crop output had been reduced in 1997. Roots and tubers production is estimated at about 13.44 million tonnes, which is well above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following the harvest of the main crops. About 30 000 Liberian refugees who remain in the country are receiving food assistance. The 1999 cereal import requirement is estimated at 475 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Wheat
|
Rice
|
Coarse grains
|
Total
| |
Normal Production
|
-
|
165
|
1 410
|
1 575
|
Normal Imports
|
175
|
200
|
15
|
390
|
of which: Structural food aid
|
60
|
40
|
12
|
112
|
1999 Domestic Availability
|
-
|
129
|
1 593
|
1 722
|
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
193
|
1 593
|
1 786
|
1998 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
129
|
1 593
|
1 722
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1999 Utilization
|
210
|
359
|
1 628
|
2 197
|
Food Use
|
207
|
321
|
1 279
|
1 807
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Non-food use
|
3
|
23
|
329
|
355
|
Exports or Re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
20
|
20
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
15
|
1999 Import Requirement
|
210
|
230
|
35
|
475
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
210
|
210
|
30
|
450
|
Food aid needs
|
-
|
20
|
5
|
25
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
Food aid pledges
|
57
|
1
|
6
|
64
|
of which: Delivered
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)
|
11
|
17
|
69
|
98
|
Indexes
|
||||
1998 production as % of normal:
|
113
| |||
1999 import requirement as % of normal:
|
122
| |||
1999 food aid requirement as % of normal:
|
22
|