| Area: | 246 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March/June to October/November |
| Population: | 7.0 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 550 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; mountainous coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots and tubers, coarse grains |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Cereal production in 1997 is estimated at 911 000 tonnes, which is about average. Nevertheless, the high number of refugees in some of the main producing areas is causing substantial damages, including soil degradation and deforestation and may have limited production activities in these areas. Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 405 000, notably located in the border areas and in Conakry. Food assistance is provided to 60 000 Sierra Leonean and 60 000 Liberian refugees amongst the most vulnerable. About 45 000 children also receive food assistance through school feeding. Organized repatriation is underway for the Liberian refugees and will be completed by the end of the year. The presence of refugees is increasing the demand for food items which results in rapid depletion of stocks available and price increases. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 400 000 tonnes.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
720 |
200 |
920 |
|
Normal Imports |
- |
110 |
260 |
370 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
1 |
32 |
2 |
35 |
|
1998 Domestic Availability |
- |
472 |
204 |
676 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
707 |
204 |
911 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
472 |
204 |
676 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1998 Utilization |
115 |
732 |
229 |
1 076 |
|
Food Use |
112 |
616 |
192 |
920 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
3 |
106 |
37 |
146 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
10 |
- |
10 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1998 Import Requirement |
115 |
260 |
25 |
400 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
115 |
250 |
25 |
390 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
10 |
- |
10 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
3 |
- |
3 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
16 |
88 |
28 |
132 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
99 |
|||
|
1998 import requirement as % of normal: |
108 |
|||
|
1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
29 |
