FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.1 - May 2003 p.52
Harvesting of the 2003 cereal crop is underway. The overall food outlook is favourable but a firm forecast of production is not yet available. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is currently visiting the country. Tentatively, the maize crop is estimated at 1 million tonnes, about 65 percent over the reduced level of last year and 20 percent above average. Import requirements of coarse grains are estimated at 90 000 tonnes, with minimal food aid for localized areas affected by drought/floods. Imports of wheat and rice, in which the country has a structural deficit, are anticipated at 60 000 tonnes.
| CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2003/04 MARKETING YEAR (May/April) | ||||
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse Grains | Total Cereals | |
| [ | thousand tonnes | ] | ||
| Previous year production | 75 | 10 | 663 | 748 |
| Previous five years average production | 80 | 16 | 873 | 969 |
| Previous year imports | 46 | 11 | 378 | 435 |
| Previous five years average imports | 45 | 21 | 256 | 322 |
| 2003/04 Domestic Availability | 82 | 8 | 1 070 | 1 160 |
| 2003 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 82 | 12 | 1 070 | 1 164 |
| 2003 Production (rice in milled terms) | 82 | 8 | 1 070 | 1 160 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2003/04 Utilization | 132 | 18 | 1 160 | 1 310 |
| Food use | 120 | 18 | 964 | 1 102 |
| Non-food use | 4 | - | 171 | 175 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 25 | 25 |
| Possible stock build up | 8 | - | - | 8 |
| 2003/04 Import Requirement | 50 | 10 | 90 | 150 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | 10 | 90 | 150 |
| of which: received or contracted | - | - | - | - |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 12 | 2 | 97 | 111 |
| Indexes | [ | percentage | ] | |
| 2003 Prod. compared to average (rice paddy terms): | 103 | 75 | 123 | 120 |
| 2003/04 Import requirement compared to average: | 111 | 48 | 35 | 47 |
| Cereal share of total calorie intake: | 65 | |||
| Additional Information | ||||
| Major foodcrops: | maize; roots; tubers | |||
| Lean season: | March-May | |||
| Population (000s): | 9 957 | |||
| GNP per capita in 2001 (US$): | 320 | |||