Area:
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28 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry; rainy season: May-October
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Population:
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1.16 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 240 (1997)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Roads inadequate, particularly during the rainy season; river transport important
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Major foodcrops:
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Rice, coarse grains, oils and fats, roots and tubers
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Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: May-August
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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64 percent
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Following first rains in mid-April in the east and the south, the weather remained mostly dry up to mid May. In late May/early June, rains covered the entire country, improved significantly during the second and third dekad of June and became particularly abundant during the first dekad of July. These good rains benefited land preparation and planting of coarse grains in the east and the north. Planting of rice in seedbeds is also underway. Transplanting will start in July/August after desalination of swamp rice fields following abundant rains. Input distribution has been undertaken in some areas to limit seed availability problems following the reduced 1999 harvest. No pest activity is reported.
The 1999 cereal production, estimated at 138 700 tonnes (with rice in paddy), is 5 percent above 1998, but below the 1997/98 pre-crisis level and below average. The overall food supply situation has improved. However, some population groups are still facing food supply difficulties, notably in urban areas and in Catio, Fulakunda and Bambadinca areas.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 107 | 59 | 166 |
| Previous five years average imports | 7 | 66 | 2 | 75 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | - | 54 | 58 | 112 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 80 | 58 | 139 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 54 | 58 | 112 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 7 | 141 | 73 | 221 |
| Food Use | 7 | 121 | 53 | 181 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | 10 | 19 | 28 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 7 | 87 | 5 | 99 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 80 | - | 85 |
| Food aid needs | 2 | 7 | 5 | 14 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 6 | 105 | 46 | 156 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 84 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of average: | 132 |
