Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

GUINEA

Area:	246 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March/June to October/November
Population:	6.7 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 510 (1994)
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

Seasonal dry conditions prevail in the major part of the country. Rains started in mid-February over the south-east, stopped during the last dekad of February and resumed in March. Land preparation for rice planting is underway in this area. Reflecting widespread rainfall in 1995, the aggregate output of cereals (including rice in paddy) is estimated at 870 000 tons. The area planted remained unchanged, with some decline in millet and sorghum area and an increase in the area under cotton.The food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of local rice decreased significantly after harvest, but remained generally above the previous year. In 1996, the country will continue to import wheat and rice. Following the regional phasing out strategy now implemented as in Côte d’Ivoire, some 113 000 Liberian refugees are continuing to receive food assistance during the first part of the year under general distribution while an additional 100 000 could be assisted within targeted feeding programmes. There are presently some 400 000 Liberian refugees and 200 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in the country, though recent fighting in Liberia may lead to an increase in refugees. In late March, attacks on Liberian refugee camps were reported, causing several deaths.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1996 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	-	423	250	673
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	100	190	-	290
of which: Structural food aid	2	35	-	37
1996 Domestic availability	10	470	242	722
1995 Production	-	420	242	662
Possible stock drawdown	10	50	-	60
1996 Utilization	110	670	242	1 022
Food use	107	540	203	850
Non-food use	3	70	39	112
(Re)exports	-	60	-	60
1996 Import Requirement	100	200	-	300
Anticipated commercial imports	98	160	-	258
Food aid needs	2	40 1/	-	42
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	3	-	-	3
of which: Delivered	-	-	-	-
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	15	96	31	142
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				98
1996 import requirement as % of normal:				103
1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				114

1/ Mostly for Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees.

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996