FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.56
| Area: | 2.4 million sq km |
| Climate: | From north to south, arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry. Rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 33.70 million (2003 estimate); GNP per caput: US$330 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; cereal production mainly in eastern and central areas. |
| Logistics: | Roads, railway and river transport inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Sorghum, millet, wheat, roots and tubers, oils |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: September-October |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 51 percent |
Preliminary forecasts from the recently concluded FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Sudan indicate a significant decline in the 2002 cereal crop compared to last year's good crop due to conflict related displacements and erratic rainfall. Report of the Mission's findings will be issued soon.
Escalation of conflict in parts of southern Sudan during 2002 has exacerbated an already poor food security situation. Large numbers of people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands cut off from humanitarian access. Already an estimated 3 million IDPs, drought-affected and vulnerable people in different parts of the country depend on food assistance.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 306 | 7 | 4 079 | 4 392 |
| Previous five years average imports | 903 | 34 | 103 | 1 040 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 232 | 6 | 4 149 | 4 387 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 232 | 10 | 3 577 | 3 819 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 232 | 6 | 3 577 | 3 815 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 572 | 572 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 1 482 | 56 | 4 239 | 5 777 |
| Food use | 1 432 | 55 | 3 423 | 4 910 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Non-food use | 30 | 1 | 726 | 757 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 90 | 90 |
| Possible stock build up | 20 | - | - | 20 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 1 250 | 50 | 90 | 1 390 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 1 150 | 50 | - | 1 200 |
| Food aid needs | 100 | - | 90 | 190 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 11 | - | 27 | 38 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 43 | 2 | 102 | 146 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 87 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 134 |