Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

THE GAMBIA

Area:	10 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet-dry climate; one rainy season: May-October
Population:	941 000 (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 360 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; coastal Sahelian country
Logistics:	Port capacity and roads adequate
Major foodcrops:	Rice, millet and sorghum
Marketing year:	November/October; Lean season: July-September
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	63 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Seasonal dry conditions prevail. The final estimates of 1995 cereal production have been released for coarse grains (75 000 tons) but not yet for rice. With preliminary paddy rice production forecast at 26 000 tons, this gives a total of 101 000 tons of cereals, which is slightly below the production of 106 000 tons in 1994, but remains about average.The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The rice market is stable but prices are higher than last year, due mainly to higher international prices. The cereal import requirement for the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 100 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 11 000 tons.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	-	14	79	93
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	30	50	3	83
of which: Structural food aid	-	4	3	7
1995/96 Domestic availability	-	22	78	100
1995 Production	-	17	75	92
Possible stock drawdown	-	5	3	8
1995/96 Utilization	30	82	88	200
Food use	24	75	74	173
Non-food use	1	2	14	17
Exports	5	5	-	10
1995/96 Import Requirement	30	60	10	100
Anticipated commercial imports	30	56	3	89
Food aid needs	-	4	7	11
of which: Exceptional	-	-	4	4
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	1	3	4
of which: Delivered	-	1	-	1
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	22	68	66	156
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				99
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal:				120
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal				157

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996