Area: |
96 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Southern half tropical wet, northern half tropical wet-dry; rainy season: March-November |
Population: |
2.95 million (2001 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: n.a. |
Specific characteristics of the country: |
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
Logistics: |
Ports and roads adequate |
Major foodcrops: |
Rice, roots and tubers, oils |
Marketing year: |
January/December; Lean season: July-August |
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: |
48 percent |
Following below average rains in early September, precipitation improved in late September and early October except in the south. Rains remained abundant in mid and late October in the north. Growing conditions are generally good allowing satisfactory rice crop development. Rice is about to be harvested and prospects are generally favourable.
Food supply difficulties persist, as domestic production has not fully recovered from several years of civil war. It is estimated that there are a total of about 70 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia, mainly in Lofa county, one of Liberia's main rice producing areas, where recent fighting has disrupted farming and displaced thousands of people. Food distributions are underway in IDPs camps but some areas remain inaccessible to relief agencies, notably in Gbarpolu County, near the Sierra Leone border.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Previous five years average production
|
- |
98 |
- |
98 |
|
Previous five years average imports
|
63 |
80 |
31 |
174 |
|
2001 Domestic Availability
|
- |
94 |
- |
94 |
|
2000 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
- |
144 |
- |
144 |
|
2000 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
- |
94 |
- |
94 |
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2001 Utilization
|
50 |
234 |
10 |
294 |
|
Food use
|
50 |
212 |
10 |
272 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use
|
- |
22 |
- |
22 |
|
Exports or re-exports
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2001 Import Requirement
|
50 |
140 |
10 |
200 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
40 |
120 |
- |
160 |
|
Food aid needs
|
10 |
20 |
10 |
40 |
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
|
Food aid pledges
|
6 |
- |
6 |
12 |
|
of which: delivered
|
5 |
- |
6 |
11 |
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
17 |
72 |
3 |
92 |
|
Indexes
|
||||
|
2000 Production as % of average:
|
147 |
|||
|
2001 Import requirement as % of average:
|
115 |
