Area: |
96 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Southern half tropical wet, northern
half tropical wet-dry; rainy season: March-November |
Population: |
2.93 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: n.a. |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
coastal country |
Logistics: |
Ports and roads adequate |
Major foodcrops: |
Rice, roots and tubers, oils |
Marketing year: |
January/December; Lean season:
July-August |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
48 percent |
Rainfall was below normal from mid-August to early October, although it was widespread.
However, above-average rains were received countrywide from the second dekad of October.
With the exception of Lofa County, relative peace in most areas has facilitated farming.
The rice crop, the main staple, is generally developing satisfactorily and cultivated
areas are anticipated to have increased. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment
Mission visited the country in late November/early December to estimate 2000 crop
production and assess the current food supply situation.
Fighting in northern Lofa County intensified in October and displaced thousands of people,
notably in the towns of Gorlu, Ganglota and Selayae, many of whom need humanitarian
assistance. Security remains precarious. WFP is distributing food aid to about
420 000 Liberian returnees. It is estimated that about three quarters of Internally
Displaced Persons have returned home while the remaining quarter settled where they were.
UNHCR is also assisting 33 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in camps in Montserrado and
Sinje areas in Grand Cape Mount County.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 110 | 1 | 111 |
| Previous five years average imports | 64 | 72 | 37 | 173 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 10 | 147 | 1 | 158 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 220 | 1 | 221 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 147 | 1 | 148 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | - | 10 |
| 2000 Utilization | 90 | 247 | 21 | 358 |
| Food Use | 88 | 215 | 21 | 324 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 2 | 26 | - | 29 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 80 | 100 | 20 | 200 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 30 | 100 | - | 130 |
| Food aid needs | 50 | - | 20 | 70 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 48 | - | 39 | 87 |
| of which: Delivered | 43 | - | 39 | 82 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 30 | 74 | 7 | 111 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 199 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 116 |
