Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

CONGO

Area:	342 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet climate in north, tropical wet-dry in south with main rainy season in October-April
Population:	2.52 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 640 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; tropical coastal country
Logistics:	Ports adequate; roads inadequate during rainy season
Major foodcrops:	Roots and tubers, fruit
Marketing year:	July/June; Lean season: September-November
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	19 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Staple foodcrops are roots, tubers and plantains and markets are well supplied with these crops. Cereal production is estimated at some 21 000 tons, mainly maize. For the 1995/96 marketing year (July/June), cereal import requirement is estimated at 108 000 tons, mostly wheat, and structural food aid requirement at 3 000 tons.

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

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	-	1	20	21
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	78	15	3	96
of which: Structural food aid	1	2	1	4
1995 Production	-	1	20	21
1995/96 Utilization	90	16	23	129
Food use	86	12	17	115
Non-food use	2	1	6	9
Possible stock build-up	2	3	-	5
1995/96 Import Requirement	90	15	3	108
Anticipated commercial imports	89	13	3	105
Food aid needs	1	2	-	3
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	22	-	22
of which: Delivered	-	9	-	9
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	33	5	7	45
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				100
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal:				113
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal:				75

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996