Area: |
976 680 sq.km |
Climate: |
Northern coastal area and lowlands in
south and east are semi-arid to arid; rest of country has a highland rainy climate with
mild winter. |
Population: |
61.67 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$100 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country |
Logistics: |
Land-locked country, roads inadequate |
Major foodcrops: |
Maize, teff, barley, sorghum, wheat,
pulses, enset (false banana) |
Marketing year: |
January/December; Lean season:
August-November |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
69 percent |
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission which visited the country from mid-November to early December indicated that good rains in September and October in several parts of the country have helped maturing crops in important cereal producing areas of central, northern and western parts of the country. Consequently, a good main (Meher) season crop is anticipated. However, some eastern and southern parts have been affected by continued drought conditions. The 2000 secondary "Belg" crop, normally harvested from June, had also failed due to drought. Although Belg production accounts for only 8 to 10 percent of total cereal production, it is important in several areas where it provides the bulk of annual food supplies.
Despite the anticipated good harvest, large scale food assistance will still be needed in 2001 for millions of people affected by prolonged drought and insecurity.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 1 119 | - | 6 975 | 8 094 |
| Previous five years average imports | 464 | 16 | 23 | 503 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 1 212 | - | 6 383 | 7 595 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 1 212 | - | 6 303 | 7 515 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 1 212 | - | 6 303 | 7 515 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 80 | 80 |
| 2000 Utilization | 2 337 | 20 | 6 503 | 8 860 |
| Food Use | 1 787 | 20 | 5 692 | 7 499 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Non-food use | 300 | - | 761 | 1 061 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Possible stock build up | 250 | - | - | 250 |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 1 125 | 20 | 120 | 1 265 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 20 | - | 65 |
| Food aid needs | 1 080 | - | 120 | 1 200 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 1 244 | 1 | 77 | 1 322 |
| of which: Delivered | 747 | 1 | 46 | 794 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 84 | 84 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 84 | 84 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 28 | 0 | 90 | 118 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 93 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 251 |
