Area:
|
784 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid
|
Population:
|
19.57 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 90 (1997)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country; exposed to tropical storms and cyclones
|
Logistics:
|
Dilapidated rail and road transport fleet; lack of fuel and spares; poor roads; substantial
deliveries by coastal vessels
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Roots, tubers, maize
|
Marketing year:
|
April/March; Lean season: February-April
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
53 percent
|
Planting of the 1999/2000 coarse grain crops is underway. Early prospects are favourable following normal to above-normal precipitation in the third dekad of October and the first two dekads of November.
Cereal production in 1999 increased for the fifth year in succession, to 1.7 million tonnes. Maize exportable surplus in marketing year 1999/2000 (April/March) is estimated at 150 000 tonnes. Import requirements of wheat and rice are estimated at 175 000 tonnes and 150 000 respectively, which are expected to be covered mostly on commercial basis. As a result of this year's bumper crop, the food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are well supplied. In areas that suffered crop losses due to floods early in the season, a second crop has been obtained after water receded and the food security situation has improved. Pastures and livestock are also reported in good condition throughout the country.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total | |
|
Normal Production |
- |
50 |
458 |
508 |
Normal Imports |
102 |
60 |
244 |
406 |
of which: Structural food aid |
102 |
52 |
140 |
294 |
|
1999/2000 Domestic Availability |
5 |
77 |
1 628 |
1 710 |
1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
116 |
1 568 |
1 684 |
1999 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
77 |
1 568 |
1 645 |
Possible stock drawdown |
5 |
- |
60 |
65 |
|
1999/2000 Utilization |
180 |
227 |
1 628 |
2 035 |
Food Use |
173 |
214 |
1 306 |
1 693 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
Non-food use |
7 |
13 |
172 |
192 |
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
150 |
150 |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1999/2000 Import Requirement |
175 |
150 |
- |
325 |
Anticipated commercial imports |
150 |
130 |
- |
280 |
Food aid needs |
25 |
20 |
- |
45 |
|
Current Aid Position |
||||
Food aid pledges |
157 |
4 |
4 |
166 |
of which: Delivered |
38 |
4 |
4 |
47 |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
9 |
11 |
67 |
87 |
Indexes |
||||
1999 production as % of normal: |
331 | |||
1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: |
80 | |||
1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
15 |
