FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.31
| Area: | 976 680 sq km |
| Climate: | Northern coastal area and lowlands in south and east are semi-arid to arid; rest of country has a highland rainy climate with mild winter. |
| Population: | 66.5 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$100 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country |
| Logistics: | Land-locked country, roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, teff, barley, sorghum, wheat, pulses, enset (false banana) |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: August-November |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 69 percent |
Poor secondary “belg” season rains and erratic main “meher” rainy season have severely affected agricultural production in several parts of the country. Millions of people are now estimated to be in need of urgent food assistance. In response to this alarming situation the Government recently renewed its appeal to the international community for food assistance to about 11 million people for October-December 2002. Preliminary results from the recently concluded FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Ethiopia indicate that the 2002 cereal crop will be significantly down on last year reflecting late and erratic rains; this indicates that the number of people in need of assistance is expected to be considerably higher. Report of the Mission's findings is expected to be issued soon.
An Emergency Operation jointly approved by FAO and WFP for food assistance to small-scale farmers and drought-affected pastoralists for a period of 12 months (1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003) is being increased in scale to cover the additional requirements. The revised EMOP targets 4.47 million people with a total cost of about US$ 163 million.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 1 273 | - | 7 040 | 8 313 |
| Previous five years average imports | 694 | 14 | 70 | 778 |
| 2003 Domestic Availability | 1 520 | - | 6 200 | 7 720 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 1 100 | - | 5 610 | 6 710 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 1 100 | - | 5 610 | 6 710 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 420 | - | 590 | 1 010 |
| 2003 Utilization | 2 720 | 15 | 6 630 | 9 365 |
| Food use | 2 610 | 15 | 5 905 | 8 530 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 110 | - | 725 | 835 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 Import Requirement | 1 200 | 15 | 430 | 1 645 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 110 | 15 | 180 | 305 |
| Food aid needs | 1 090 | - | 250 | 1 340 |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 38 | - | 87 | 125 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 81 | |||
| 2003 Import requirement as % of average: | 211 |