Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

CAMEROON

Area:	465 000 sq.km
Climate:	North: tropical wet-dry, south: tropical wet; length of rainy season declines from 11 months in south to 4 months in extreme north
Population:	12.87 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 680 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
Logistics:	Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Chad
Major foodcrops:	Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
Marketing year:	July/June; Lean season: June-August
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	39 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Abundant rainfall was received over the entire country during the second dekad of March. Land preparation is complete in the south and planting of the first maize crop is underway. Due to favourable rainfall in 1995, aggregate output of cereals is estimated to be a record 1.2 million tons. Imports of fertilizers from Nigeria have been reported, allowing cotton producers to sell a part of their harvest to Nigerians instead of selling it to the national marketing board.The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are well supplied. Price of bread increased strongly in March. For the 1995/96 marketing year (July/June), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 347 000 tons, mainly wheat and rice.

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

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	1	61	850	912
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	215	130	15	360
of which: Structural food aid	-	4	1	5
1995/96 Domestic availability	1	55	1 180	1 236
1995 Production	1	55	1 180	1 236
Possible stock drawdown	-	-	-	-
1995/96 Utilization	211	165	1 185	1 561
Food use	187	135	891	1 213
Non-food use	4	5	242	251
Re-exports	10	20	2	32
Possible stock build-up	10	5	50	65
1995/96 Import Requirement	210	110	5	325
Anticipated commercial imports	210	105	5	320
Food aid needs	-	5	-	5
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	3	-	3
of which: Delivered	-	3	-	3
Donor-financed purchases for export	-	3	-	3
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	14	10	61	85
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				135
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal:				90
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal				100

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996