FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report Part III, No.2, August 2001 MADAGASCAR 26

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MADAGASCAR

Area:
582 000 sq.km
Climate:
Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: October-March; tropical cyclones
Population:
15.2 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$250 (1999)
Specific characteristics of the country:
Low-income food-deficit country
Logistics:
Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres
Major foodcrops:
Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit
Marketing year:
April/March; Lean season: February/March
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
60 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Below-average rains in northern and central parts during February and first dekad of March, which followed abundant rains in previous months, affected growing conditions for the 2001 paddy crop. The overall prospects for the paddy harvest, starting from April, are uncertain; yield reductions are anticipated in parts. By contrast, in the southern maize growing areas abundant precipitation since the second dekad of February improved prospects for the maize crop which had been affected by dry weather. However, the rains may have arrived too late to prevent yield reductions and the harvest could be reduced for the second consecutive year. Last year, the southern areas were affected by a severe drought that caused a one-quarter decline in the maize output.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2001/02 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)

 
Wheat
Rice
Coarse grains
Total
Previous five years average production
7
2 467
166
2 640
Previous five years average imports
76
144
10
230
2001/02 Domestic Availability
9
1 700
165
1 874
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms)
9
2 500
160
2 669
2001 Production (rice in milled terms)
9
1 700
160
1 869
Possible stock drawdown
-
-
5
5
2001/02 Utilization
79
2 020
178
2 277
Food use
79
1 875
157
2 111
of which: local purchase requirement
-
-
-
-
Non-food use
-
120
21
141
Exports or re-exports
-
-
-
-
Possible stock build up
-
25
-
25
2001/02 Import Requirement
70
320
13
403
Anticipated commercial imports
68
300
10
378
Food aid needs
2
20
3
25
Current Aid Position
       
Food aid pledges
2
-
3
5
of which: delivered
2
-
1
3
Donor-financed purchases
-
-
-
-
of which: for local use
-
-
-
-
for export
-
-
-
-
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
5
115
10
129
Indexes
       
2001 Production as % of average:
     
101
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average:
     
175

FAO/GIEWS - August 2001

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