Abundant and widespread rains benefited crop development in July and August. Precipitation was particularly abundant during the second and third dekad of July and again during the second dekad of August when there was above-normal rainfall countrywide. Precipitation decreased during the third dekad of August and in early September but was sufficient to meet crop water needs. Therefore, coarse grains are developing satisfactorily and crop prospects are favourable.
Following a government appeal for international food assistance to meet the needs of populations affected by a poor crop and attacks by African Migratory Locusts in late 1997, an emergency food operation permitted the provision of 6 000 tonnes of relief food to 210 000 people in the extreme north for a period of 3 months. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 250 000 tonnes of wheat and rice, and 10 000 tonnes of coarse grains.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (3 September)
Reflecting abundant and widespread rains in July and August, crops are generally developing satisfactorily. Following an above-average cereal harvest in 1997, the food supply situation is satisfactory. Refugees from Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Chad reside in the Central African Republic.
For the 1998 marketing year (January/December), the cereal import requirement is estimated at about 40 000 tonnes, mainly wheat.
CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC* (16 September)
Since the beginning of August, the country has again been plunged into civil strife, barely a year after the insurgency that toppled the former government. The most affected parts of the country are the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, and the south-western part stretching from the estuary of the Congo river to the capital, Kinshasa. This latter part is now back in government hands after brief occupation by the rebels. Emergency food aid has been airlifted to Kinshasa from Pointe Noire and shipped across the Congo river from Brazzaville in neighbouring Congo.
The eastern part faces a potential humanitarian crisis should the fighting escalate. Season A is about to start in the Great Lakes region; intensified conflict will hamper farming activities and result in severe food shortages in the coming months. Moreover, many farming households were unable to take full advantage of the favourable weather conditions during the just-ended season B largely due to lack of inputs. Large-scale population movements can also be expected in search of both food and safety, both within DRC and to neighbouring countries. Already, reports indicate that refugees from DRC are entering Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Following the civil strife in 1997 which severely disrupted food marketing activities and caused large-scale displacement of the urban population, the situation appears to be moving towards recovery and reconstruction. Most of the estimated 50 000 refugees in the DRC have returned.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA (3 September)
The staple foodcrops are sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains. Some 10 000 tonnes of wheat and rice are imported annually. The food aid requirement in 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 2 000 tonnes of wheat and rice.
The staple foodcrops are cassava and plantains, the production of which is estimated at about 330 000 tonnes. Production of cereals in 1997, mainly maize, is estimated at 25 000 tonnes. The country imports the bulk of its cereal consumption requirement. The wheat and rice requirement in 1998 is estimated at 82 000 tonnes. No food aid is necessary.