Area: |
25 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Highland rainy climate with moderate
temperature (200C); two rainy seasons: February-May and September-November |
Population: |
8.11 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$250 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
land-locked country |
Logistics: |
Ports: Mombasa (Kenya) and Dar es
Salaam (Tanzania); roads and railway inadequate |
Major foodcrops: |
Roots, tubers, pulses, plantains,
sorghum, maize |
Marketing year: |
January/December; Lean season:
November-December |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
25 percent |
Sowing of the 2001 A season, normally from September to October, is delayed due to
below-average precipitation in September and first half of October. Widespread abundant
rains in the second half of October improved soil conditions for planting and provided
relief to early-planted crops, particularly in eastern and southern parts affected by
prolonged dry weather. However, shortages of seeds due to the loss of crops planted early
in September, as well as cassava cuts due to the failure of the third 2000 C season, are
likely to reduce the area planted. The rains from mid-October also benefited perennial
crops such as banana and coffee which have been seriously affected by lack of
precipitation since the early cessation of the 2000 B season rains in May, as the C season
short light rains from mid- July to mid-August failed this year.
In the areas worst affected by the prolonged dry weather, including districts of Butare
Gitarama, Kaibungo and Umutara prefectures, as well as the Bugesera region of Kigali
Rurale Prefecture, the recent rains were too late to avoid serious reductions in yields of
banana, coffee and cassava, as well as the loss of large numbers of livestock. In some
areas of the Umutara Prefecture, the losses of bovines are estimated at 25 percent of the
total heads. Prices of livestock have declined sharply reflecting distress sellings. The
food situation in these areas gives serious cause for concern. A local Ministry of
Agriculture/FAO/WFP/FEWS/EU assessment Mission in late October estimated at 267 000
the number of persons most affected by the dry weather and in need of food assistance for
the next three months. This number represents 22 percent of the population in the affected
districts. The mission also recommended the distribution of agriculture inputs to assist
farmers to recover their production capacity and restock the lost animals. Overall, the
Government has requested international emergency assistance for a value of US$7.215
million.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 6 | 7 | 182 | 195 |
| Previous five years average imports | 15 | 13 | 182 | 210 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 8 | 8 | 219 | 235 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 8 | 12 | 219 | 239 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 8 | 8 | 219 | 235 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Utilization | 23 | 18 | 369 | 410 |
| Food Use | 23 | 17 | 348 | 388 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | - | 1 | 21 | 22 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 15 | 10 | 150 | 175 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 15 | 10 | 90 | 115 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 147 | 147 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 144 | 144 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 3 | 2 | 42 | 47 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 123 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 83 |
