FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.21
| Area: | 4 033 sq km |
| Climate: | Semi-arid; rainfall increases with altitude; rainy season: July-December |
| Population: | 466 219 (2003 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$1 310 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago |
| Logistics: | Port capacity and roads adequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, rice, pulses |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: n.a. since 90 percent of requirements covered by imports |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 57 percent |
Due to a late start of the rainy season which delayed plantings, and subsequent erratic precipitation, the conditions of the maize crop, the only cereal grown, have been poor in most islands.
A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission recently estimated the output from the maize crop, to be harvested until December, at some 5 000 tonnes mostly produced in Santiago Island (54 percent) and Fogo island (35 percent). This level of production is only one fourth of last year's output and similar to the poor crops harvested in 1997 and 1998. Production of beans and potatoes will also be below normal.
The Mission estimated cereal import requirements for the marketing year 2002/03 at 108 518 tonnes. Taking into account an anticipated commercial cereal import of 33 250 tonnes and 31 300 tonnes of food aid pledges, the total uncovered deficit for the year is about 37 900 tonnes. Although the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement also in a year of normal production, the rural population, particularly in the semi-arid zones, could be severely affected.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | - | 18 | 18 |
| Previous five years average imports | 21 | 30 | 33 | 84 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 24 | 31 | 58 | 114 |
| Food use | 24 | 31 | 57 | 113 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 24 | 31 | 53 | 108 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 17 | 11 | 33 |
| Food aid needs | 20 | 14 | 42 | 75 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 10 | 7 | 15 | 31 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 11 | 11 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 52 | 67 | 123 | 242 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 28 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 129 |