BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 28 000 sq.km
Climate: Tropical wet climate
Population: 0.4 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 430 (1994)
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
Rains were abundant in early June, stopped during the second dekad and resumed during the third dekad. Dry conditions prevailed in July and August. The staple foodcrops are sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains and the country annually imports some 11 000 tons of wheat and rice, half of which is in the form of food aid.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | - | - | - |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 5 | 5 | - | 10 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 2 | 2 | - | 4 |
| 1995 Production | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 Utilization | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| Food use | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| 1996 Import Requirement | 6 | 5 | - | 11 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 3 | 3 | - | 6 |
| Food aid needs | 3 | 2 | - | 5 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| 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 | 125 | |||