Africa report 05/96 Individual countries

MADAGASCAR

Area:	582 000 sq.km
Climate:	Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rains in October-March; tropical cyclones.
Population:	14.7 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 240 (1993)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country
Logistics:	Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres
Major foodcrops:	Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit
Marketing year:	April/March; Lean season: February/March
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	60 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

The rainy season continues to be favourable in most crop producing areas. Unusually heavy rainfall and cyclones in January resulted in floods but caused only localized damage to crops. Harvest prospects are favourable, particularly for the rice crop to be harvested in the next few weeks.The food supply situation remains tight but should improve substantially as a result of increases in domestic outputs and reduced cereal import requirements for 1996/97. The price of rice, the main staple, remains high due to continuous problems of distribution and speculation by traders.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1996/97 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	7	1 651	152	1 810
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	48	53	10	111
of which: Structural food aid	13	11	10	34
1996 Production	9	1 564	151	1 724
1996/97 Utilization	70	1 704	167	1 941
Food use	69	1 560	114	1 743
Non-food use	1	144	32	177
Possible stock build-up	-	-	1	1
Exports	-	-	20	20
1996/97 Import Requirement	61	140	16	217
Anticipated commercial imports	46	100	10	156
Food aid needs	15	40	6	61
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	5	4	4	13
of which: Delivered	-	-	-	-
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	5	106	8	119
Indexes
1996 production as % of normal:				95
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal:				195
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				179

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996