|
Area:
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4 000 sq.km
|
|
Climate:
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Semi-arid; rainfall increases with altitude; rainy season: July-December
|
|
Population:
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451 500 (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$1 330 (1999)
|
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago
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|
Logistics:
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Port capacity and roads adequate
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|
Major foodcrops:
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Maize, rice, pulses
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|
Marketing year:
|
November/October; Lean season: n.a. since 90 percent of requirements covered by imports
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|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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57 percent
|
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of maize normally starts in July with the onset of the rains on the main islands. Following two successive good harvests in 1999 and 2000, the availability of seeds is adequate.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, domestic production covers only about a quarter of consumption requirement and the country relies on imports and food aid to cover its needs. With available stocks and planned commercial imports and food aid for the coming months, markets should remain well supplied with stable prices. The cereal import requirement for the 2000/01 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 88 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 53 000 tonnes.
|
Wheat
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Rice
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Coarse grains
|
Total
| |
|
Previous five years average production
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
11
|
|
Previous five years average imports
|
21
|
26
|
39
|
86
|
|
2000/01 Domestic Availability
|
-
|
-
|
19
|
19
|
|
2000 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
-
|
19
|
19
|
|
2000 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
-
|
19
|
19
|
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
2000/01 Utilization
|
23
|
30
|
54
|
107
|
|
Food use
|
23
|
30
|
51
|
104
|
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Non-food use
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
|
Exports or Re-exports
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
2000/01 Import Requirement
|
23
|
30
|
35
|
88
|
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
5
|
15
|
15
|
35
|
|
Food aid needs
|
18
|
15
|
20
|
53
|
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
|
Food aid pledges
|
16
|
7
|
34
|
57
|
|
of which: delivered
|
14
|
7
|
19
|
40
|
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
51
|
67
|
113
|
230
|
|
Indexes
|
||||
|
2000 Production as % of average:
|
168
| |||
|
2000/01 Import requirement as % of average:
|
102
|
