Area: |
230 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in
south and one in north |
Population: |
20.2 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$390 (1999) |
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 |
Following widespread and above-normal rains in early and mid-September, precipitation decreased in late September and early October but improved in mid-October. Rains ceased in the north in late October. They remained widespread in the centre and the south. The second maize crop developing satisfactorily in the south. Millet and sorghum are being harvested in the north.
Following a reduced harvest in 1999 and poor crop prospects this year, the food supply situation is tight in some areas. About 10 000 Liberian refugees remain in the country. Cereal imports during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 485 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 46 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 204 | 1 528 | 1 732 |
| Previous five years average imports | 200 | 219 | 24 | 443 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | - | 150 | 1 546 | 1 696 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 210 | 1 476 | 1 686 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 140 | 1 476 | 1 616 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 10 | 70 | 80 |
| 2000 Utilization | 220 | 370 | 1 591 | 2 181 |
| Food Use | 218 | 340 | 1 261 | 1 818 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 2 | 25 | 325 | 353 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 220 | 220 | 45 | 485 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 190 | 210 | 39 | 439 |
| Food aid needs | 30 | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 54 | 7 | 23 | 84 |
| of which: Delivered | 4 | 7 | 5 | 16 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 11 | 17 | 62 | 90 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 97 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 109 |
