BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 2 000 sq.km
Climate: No dry months, most rainfall in November-July; tropical cyclones
Population: 1.1 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 3 180 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country: Cereal consumption covered almost entirely by imports
Logistics: Inadequate port handling capacity; road system good
Major foodcrops: Vegetables
Marketing year: January/December
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 48 percent
CURRENT SITUATION
The bulk of the cultivated area is normally devoted to sugar cane and most of the remainder to fruits and vegetables. As a consequence, the country is virtually dependent on imports to meet its cereal needs. With flourishing sugar, manufacturing and tourism sectors, the 1996 gross domestic product is forecast at 5.8 percent, up from 5.3 percent in 1995. As a result, the cereal import requirement, estimated at 172 000 tons, will continue to be met through commercial channels.
Mauritius became the twelfth member country of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 1995, following the admission of South Africa in 1994 and Namibia in 1990.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 72 | 75 | 25 | 172 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | 1 | - | 6 |
| 1995 Production | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| 1996 Utilization | 75 | 76 | 25 | 176 |
| Food use | 75 | 75 | 2 | 152 |
| Non-food use | - | 1 | 23 | 24 |
| 1996 Import Requirement | 75 | 77 | 20 | 172 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 75 | 77 | 20 | 172 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 66 | 68 | 2 | 136 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 100 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 100 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | - | |||