FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.1 - May 2003 p.36
Preliminary forecasts point to an increase of 5 percent in this year’s cereal production compared to last year. Maize surpluses will be available in the north and parts of the centre, which are likely to be largely exported to neighbouring countries. In southern parts, where the cereal crop is again poor, substantial amounts of food aid will continue to be required. Imports will also be needed as high internal transport costs make maize from the north to the south uncompetitive. Imports of wheat, rice and maize flour, mainly for urban consumption, are also anticipated in 2003/04. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is currently in the country.
| CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2003/04 MARKETING YEAR (April/March) | ||||
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse Grains | Total Cereals | |
| [ | thousand tonnes | ] | ||
| Previous year production | - | 164 | 1 600 | 1 764 |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 172 | 1 513 | 1 687 |
| Previous year imports | 310 | 252 | 194 | 756 |
| Previous five years average imports | 221 | 164 | 147 | 532 |
| 2003/04 Domestic Availability | 20 | 112 | 1 696 | 1 828 |
| 2003 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 168 | 1 696 | 1 864 |
| 2003 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 112 | 1 696 | 1 808 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 20 | - | - | 20 |
| 2003/04 Utilization | 293 | 372 | 1 886 | 2 551 |
| Food use | 288 | 342 | 1 378 | 2 008 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 30 | 293 | 328 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| 2003/04 Import Requirement | 273 | 260 | 190 | 723 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 189 | 240 | 180 | 609 |
| of which: received or contracted | - | - | - | - |
| Food aid needs | 84 | 20 | 10 | 114 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 84 | - | - | 84 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 15 | 18 | 74 | 107 |
| Indexes | [ | percentage | ] | |
| 2003 Prod. compared to average (rice paddy terms): | - | 98 | 112 | 110 |
| 2003/04 Import requirement compared to average: | 124 | 159 | 129 | 136 |
| Cereal share of total calorie intake: | 43 | |||
| Additional Information | ||||
| Major foodcrops: | roots; tubers; maize | |||
| Lean season: | February-April | |||
| Population (000s): | 18 727 | |||
| GNP per capita in 2001 (US$): | 210 | |||