Area:
|
582 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: October-March; tropical cyclones
|
Population:
|
16.34 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$260 (2000)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country
|
Logistics:
|
Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit
|
Marketing year:
|
April/March; Lean season: February/March
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
60 percent
|
Harvesting of the 2002 cereal crops, mainly rice, is underway. Overall prospects are satisfactory reflecting generally adequate rains and the absence of significant locust infestation during the growing season. However, production is expected to be reduced in parts. In northeastern coastal areas, affected by a prolonged dry spell in December and January, heavy rains in March may have arrived too late to avoid yield reductions of rice crop. In southeastern parts, below-average rains in March are also likely to have adversely affected maize yields.
Shortages of rice, sugar, salt and other essential non-food items, including fuel, are being experienced in Antananarivo. This reflects disruption of the transport to the capital city as a result of road blockades and destruction of bridges following the current political crisis. Prices of food staples are on the increase and the food supply situation is likely to deteriorate if the crisis is not resolved soon.
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total | |
Previous five years average production |
8 |
2 475 |
169 |
2 652 |
Previous five years average imports |
83 |
100 |
10 |
193 |
2001/02 Domestic Availability |
13 |
1 768 |
165 |
1 946 |
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
10 |
2 600 |
160 |
2 770 |
2001 Production (rice in milled terms) |
10 |
1 768 |
160 |
1 938 |
Possible stock drawdown |
3 |
- |
5 |
8 |
2001/02 Utilization |
93 |
1 880 |
178 |
2 151 |
Food use |
93 |
1 750 |
157 |
2 000 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
Non-food use |
- |
130 |
21 |
151 |
Exports or re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2001/02 Import Requirement |
80 |
112 |
13 |
205 |
Anticipated commercial imports |
78 |
110 |
10 |
198 |
Food aid needs |
2 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
Current Aid Position |
||||
Food aid pledges |
2 |
15 |
11 |
29 |
of which: delivered |
2 |
15 |
11 |
29 |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
6 |
107 |
10 |
122 |
Indexes |
||||
2001 Production as % of average: |
104 | |||
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: |
106 |