FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report Part III, No.2, August 2001 CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF 11

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CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

Area:
2 268 000 sq.km
Climate:
Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south
Population:
47.12 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US $ 110 (1998)
Specific characteristics of the country:
Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea
Logistics:
Roads inadequate
Major foodcrops:
Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
Marketing year:
January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south)
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
15 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

The food supply situation continues to deteriorate due to persistent insecurity. Intensified fighting, particularly in eastern parts, has further disrupted all economic and agricultural activities and resulted in fresh waves of population displacements. The number of IDPs whose food and nutritional situation is critical is currently estimated at 2 million. Recent surveys conducted by non-governmental organisations indicated that up to 21 percent of the population is suffering from severe malnutrition in the eastern province of North-Kivu. The situation could deteriorate with an expected cassava crop failure in eastern parts due to pests and diseases. The food situation is also difficult in the main cities of the country, mainly Kinshasa with a population of 6-7 million. An FAO Mission last October estimated Kinshasa's food deficit in 2000 at 1 million tonnes. In general, factors constraining food supply to Kinshasa and other cities include the extreme state of disrepair of the road infrastructure; police/military harassment of shippers, traders and farmers; the cut-off of food supply from Equateur and Eastern Provinces; and the scarcity of fuel due to a shortage of foreign exchange.

Humanitarian assistance remains constrained by persistent insecurity and very poor road conditions. WFP plans to increase its distributions of food aid to cover 1.2 million people, including some 70 000 Angolan refugees, and has recently appealed for US$112 million for the relief operations.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2001 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)

 
Wheat
Rice
Coarse grains
Total
Previous five years average production
18
375
1 259
1 652
Previous five years average imports
133
46
45
224
2001 Domestic Availability
18
240
1 194
1 452
2000 Production (rice in paddy terms)
18
360
1 194
1 572
2000 Production (rice in milled terms)
18
240
1 194
1 452
Possible stock drawdown
-
-
-
-
2001 Utilization
158
290
1 254
1 702
Food use
150
247
980
1 377
of which: local purchase requirement
-
-
1
1
Non-food use
8
43
264
315
Exports or re-exports
-
-
-
-
Possible stock build up
-
-
10
10
2001 Import Requirement
140
50
60
250
Anticipated commercial imports
140
50
54
244
Food aid needs
-
-
6
6
Current Aid Position
       
Food aid pledges
-
-
2
3
of which: delivered
-
-
2
2
Donor-financed purchases
-
-
1
1
of which: for local use
-
-
1
1
for export
-
-
-
-
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
3
5
21
29
Indexes
       
2000 Production as % of average:
     
95
2001 Import requirement as % of average:
     
112

FAO/GIEWS - August 2001

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