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 $ 100 (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 |
Civil strife intensified in eastern parts during the past month. Planting of the 2002 A season crops is underway in the Kivu region but insecurity is hindering farming activities. Serious insecurity incidents have been reported in the Plains of Ruzizi and Uvira in South Kivu province. Systematic looting by armed groups is reported in Kalonge, while movements of troops to Bunyakiri, Hombo and Nyabibwe have resulted in new population displacements. Insecurity is also hampering distribution of humanitarian assistance.
Elsewhere in the country, insecurity has also hindered distribution of
food assistance in the southeastern province of Katanga, where the food supply situation
is reported to be extremely serious. WFP is currently airlifting food to the districts of
Nyunzu, Manono, Kabalo, Kongolo, Kiambi and Mulongo. There is particular concern for the
food situation in Kiambi, where WFP reports malnutrition rates among the highest in DRC at
32 percent, and mortality rates among children under five years are also very high. While
food aid in the pipeline is adequate for emergency operations, additional assistance is
needed for funding transport of humanitarian workers to the worst affected areas.
The food situation in large cities in the west is also critical, particularly in Kinshasa
and surrounding areas. In general, all the economic activities of the country have been
affected by the conflict and it is estimated that more than one-third of the population,
or 16 million people, have critical food needs. A recent study by the Ministry of
Agriculture indicates that as a result of the political and economic crisis, agricultural
production in the country has declined by 2.8 percent annually in the last four years,
with production of maize decreasing 13 percent. On average, the caloric deficit of the
population is estimated at 20.3 percent.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Previous five years average imports
|
143 |
46 |
45 |
234 |
|
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
|
- |
- |
21 |
21 |
|
of which: delivered
|
- |
- |
21 |
21 |
|
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:
|
107 |
