Area:
|
2 345 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south
|
Population:
|
45.734 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US $ 110 (1997)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea
|
Logistics:
|
Roads inadequate
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
|
Marketing year:
|
January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south)
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
15 percent
|
Increased population displacement by armed conflict is reported in Goma region in eastern DRC. A UN mission visited areas under RCD control to explore possibilities of emergency assistance to the displaced populations in the rebel-held areas. The assistance will consist of the distribution of seeds, agricultural implements and foodstuffs. In Kinshasa, the nutritional situation continues to deteriorate. Prices of basic food commodities increased sharply. Many of the agriculture areas that supply Kinshasa remain cut off, restricting many households' access to food. In addition, the transport of some food supplies from Kinshasa to Brazzaville reduced food availability. A recent survey of families on the outskirts of Kinshasa indicated that 90 percent of daily household expenditure goes on food.
The food supply situation remains tight in Lubumbashi, where flooding last year destroyed up to 70 percent of crops and where a large number of displaced people from the Kalemie, Nyunzu and Nyemba areas are reported. In the provinces of Bas Congo, Bandundu and Katanga, tens of thousands of refugees are reported coming from the Pool region in the Republic of Congo or from northern Angola, which has been affected by renewed fighting.
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total | |
Normal Production |
18 |
445 |
1 279 |
1 742 |
Normal Imports |
130 |
45 |
45 |
220 |
of which: Structural food aid |
5 |
- |
5 |
10 |
1999 Domestic Availability |
18 |
320 |
1 388 |
1 726 |
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
18 |
480 |
1 388 |
1 886 |
1998 Production (rice in milled terms) |
18 |
320 |
1 388 |
1 726 |
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1999 Utilization |
158 |
370 |
1 448 |
1 976 |
Food Use |
151 |
313 |
1 140 |
1 604 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
5 |
5 |
Non-food use |
7 |
57 |
308 |
372 |
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1999 Import Requirement |
140 |
50 |
60 |
250 |
Anticipated commercial imports |
135 |
50 |
55 |
240 |
Food aid needs |
5 |
- |
5 |
10 |
Current Aid Position |
||||
Food aid pledges |
1 |
3 |
- |
5 |
of which: Delivered |
1 |
3 |
- |
5 |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
3 |
7 |
25 |
35 |
Indexes |
||||
1998 production as % of normal: |
108 | |||
1999 import requirement as % of normal: |
114 | |||
1999 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
100 |