FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.54
| Area: | 627 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Semi-arid in the south; rest arid |
| Population: | 6.54 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput; n.a. |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country |
| Logistics: | Inadequate port facilities; serious shortage of fuel and spare parts |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, sorghum, sesame |
| Marketing year: | August/July; Lean season: June-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 45 percent |
Prospects for the current main “gu” season cereal crops are generally favourable following good rains in end-April/early-May. However, poor crop establishments were reported in Bakool and Hiran regions, while in northern Gedo Region, despite good rains, insecurity hampered crop cultivation.
Despite the improvement in the overall food supply situation earlier this year in parts of southern Somalia, due to good secondary “deyr” season harvest in February 2002, serious food supply difficulties remain in northern Gedo, as well as in Garbaharay and Burdhubo due to successive years of drought and insecurity. Recent escalation of conflict, particularly around Baidoa, north-eastern Somalia (Puntland) and in Mogadishu has displaced large number of people and has prevented the delivery of food assistance to vulnerable groups raising serious humanitarian concerns.
Elsewhere, in north-western Somalia (Somaliland) poor rains have adversely affected the establishment of the gu crop. The food situation is worsening in Sool, Sanag and Nugal regions where below-average rains have affected crop and livestock production. The continued ban on livestock imports from eastern Africa by countries along the Arabian Peninsula has reduced foreign exchange earnings and affected the livelihoods of large number of pastoralists.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 2 | 260 | 262 |
| Previous five years average imports | 111 | 106 | 74 | 291 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 20 | 1 | 258 | 279 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 2 | 258 | 260 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 1 | 258 | 259 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 20 | - | - | 20 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 120 | 91 | 368 | 579 |
| Food use | 120 | 91 | 333 | 544 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 35 | 35 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 100 | 90 | 110 | 300 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 100 | 90 | 40 | 230 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 70 | 70 |
| 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) | 18 | 14 | 51 | 83 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 99 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 103 |