|
Area:
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627 000 sq.km
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|
Climate:
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Semi-arid in the south; rest arid
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|
Population:
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6.20 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput; n.a.
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country
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|
Logistics:
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Inadequate port facilities; serious shortage of fuel and spare parts
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|
Major foodcrops:
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Maize, sorghum, sesame
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|
Marketing year:
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August/July; Lean season: June-August
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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45 percent
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Prospects for the 2001 main "Gu" cereal crops, now being harvested, are poor. Erratic and below-normal rains in the main growing areas in the south have reduced soil moisture for growing crops. Preliminary forecasts point to a sorghum output of about one-third the previous year's "Gu" production and less than half of the post-war average. Most affected regions include, rainfed areas of Gedo, Hiran, Bay and Bakool. However, good maize production is anticipated in the irrigated areas of Juba and Shabelle valleys.
Despite the good harvests in the last two cropping seasons, severe food difficulties may emerge reflecting slow household recovery from the earlier succession of droughts and long-term effects of years of insecurity. Moreover, further injections of new currency into the market with the attendant depreciation of the Somali Shilling have caused a sharp increase in prices of food items eroding the purchasing power of large sections of the population.
Elsewhere, in northern Somalia, pasture conditions have deteriorated due to poor rains. The ban of livestock imports from eastern Africa by countries along the Arabian Peninsula due to a Rift Valley fever has caused substantial loss of income and has affected the livelihoods of a large number of pastoral households. Some livestock marketing activities, chilled meat and exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have created income generating opportunities and strengthened the Somali Shilling. However, the UAE accounts for only 2 percent of the total Somali livestock exports to countries along the Arabian Peninsula and the food security impact of lifting the ban is expected to be limited.
In response to anticipated poor harvests, dwindling stocks and inadequate relief food in the pipeline, WFP and other humanitarian agencies have appealed to the international community for additional food assistance. Earlier in the year a UN inter-agency appeal was launched for US $130 million, to support livelihoods and assist the country's recovery.
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Wheat
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Rice
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Coarse grains
|
Total
| |
|
Previous five years average production
|
-
|
2
|
267
|
269
|
|
Previous five years average imports
|
113
|
94
|
56
|
263
|
|
2001/02 Domestic Availability
|
5
|
1
|
225
|
231
|
|
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
2
|
190
|
192
|
|
2001 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
1
|
190
|
191
|
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
5
|
-
|
35
|
40
|
|
2001/02 Utilization
|
105
|
91
|
345
|
541
|
|
Food use
|
105
|
81
|
310
|
496
|
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Non-food use
|
-
|
10
|
35
|
45
|
|
Exports or re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
2001/02 Import Requirement
|
100
|
90
|
120
|
310
|
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
100
|
75
|
50
|
225
|
|
Food aid needs
|
-
|
15
|
70
|
85
|
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
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Food aid pledges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
of which: delivered
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
17
|
13
|
49
|
78
|
|
Indexes
|
||||
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2001 Production as % of average:
|
71
| |||
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2001/02 Import requirement as % of average:
|
118
|
