FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.25
| Area: | 2 268 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south |
| Population: | 47.59 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: n.a. |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south) |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 15 percent |
The food situation remains critical as a result of the persistent civil war. An escalation of military activities in the eastern Kivu region in October, particularly around the town of Uvira, has resulted in renewed displacements of the population fleeing from the fighting, at the same time further hampering access by humanitarian agencies to the affected population. The food situation of the internally displaced population is extremely serious. Recent assessments indicate that between 10 to 30 percent of the population in eastern areas of the country are suffering from acute malnutrition. The food and nutritional situation is also severe in urban areas, particularly in the capital Kinshasa and surrounding areas, where high poverty levels prevail, and in the Katanga Province where this year cereal and bean harvest was sharply reduced by the drought that affected the Southern Africa region. Prices of basic food have increased significantly since July in this province, constraining access to food for large sections of the population.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 18 | 353 | 1 234 | 1 605 |
| Previous five years average imports | 145 | 50 | 52 | 247 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 18 | 220 | 1 194 | 1 432 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 18 | 326 | 1 194 | 1 538 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 18 | 217 | 1 194 | 1 429 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| 2002 Utilization | 158 | 270 | 1 254 | 1 682 |
| Food use | 150 | 228 | 990 | 1 367 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 8 | 43 | 264 | 315 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 140 | 50 | 60 | 250 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 140 | 50 | - | 190 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 1 | 63 | 65 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 3 | 5 | 21 | 29 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 96 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 101 |