| Area: | 28 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet climate |
| Population: | 393 000 (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 360 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: September-November |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 12 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The staple food crops are roots, tubers and plantains, and the country annually imports almost 11 000 tons of wheat and rice, of which about one third received as food aid.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | - | - | - |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 5 | 5 | - | 10 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 2 | 2 | - | 4 |
| 1994 Production | - | - | - | - |
| 1995 Utilization | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| Food use | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| 1995 Import Requirement | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 4 | 3 | - | 7 |
| Food aid needs | 2 | 2 | - | 4 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 14 | 13 | - | 27 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | - | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 110 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal | 100 | |||