|
Area:
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72 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Mostly tropical wet-dry; extreme south tropical wet; rainy season: March-October
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Population:
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5.03 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$130 (1999)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Roads inadequate
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|
Major foodcrops:
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Rice, roots and tubers
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|
Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: July-August
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|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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57 percent
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Planting of the rice crop is underway with the onset of rains in mid-April. Precipitation was abundant in mid-May and early June. Rains decreased in mid and late June but improved in early July. Rice production should increase this year reflecting increased planted areas by returning farmers and improved conditions for distribution of inputs.
As a result of low food production in 2000 and transport problems, the food supply situation will remain tight in 2001. WFP plans to distribute more than 50 000 tonnes of food aid to an estimated 544 000 beneficiaries during 2001, including IDPs, recent returnees from Guinea and 200 000 beneficiaries of special programmes for vulnerable groups such as schooling and malnourished children. NGOs also plan to distribute around 37 000 tonnes during 2001. The Government has launched a resettlement programme in Freetown, Port Loko, Kenema and Pejehun districts, which have been declared safe. A Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme also started in May for ex-combatants who return their arms. Between 58 000 and 60 000 Sierra Leonean refugees have recently returned following fighting in Guinea, 2 000 to 2 500 are returning to Sierra Leone each week.
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Wheat
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Rice
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Coarse grains
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Total
| |
|
Previous five years average production
|
-
|
347
|
45
|
392
|
|
Previous five years average imports
|
78
|
109
|
30
|
217
|
|
2001 Domestic Availability
|
-
|
119
|
23
|
142
|
|
2000 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
198
|
23
|
221
|
|
2000 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
119
|
23
|
142
|
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Possible stock drawdown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
2001 Utilization
|
80
|
369
|
53
|
502
|
|
Food use
|
80
|
339
|
48
|
467
|
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Non-food use
|
-
|
30
|
5
|
35
|
|
Exports or re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
2001 Import Requirement
|
80
|
250
|
30
|
360
|
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
50
|
200
|
-
|
250
|
|
Food aid needs
|
30
|
50
|
30
|
110
|
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
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Food aid pledges
|
33
|
-
|
1
|
34
|
|
of which: delivered
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
16
|
67
|
10
|
93
|
|
Indexes
|
||||
|
2000 Production as % of average:
|
56
| |||
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2001 Import requirement as % of average:
|
166
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