|
Area: |
10 000 sq.km |
|
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry climate; one rainy season: May-October |
|
Population: |
1.175 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 360 (1993) |
|
Specific characteristics of the country: |
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal sahelian country |
|
Logistics: |
Port capacity and roads adequate |
|
Major foodcrops: |
Rice, millet and sorghum |
|
Marketing year: |
November/October; Lean season: July-September |
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: |
63 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO Crop Assessment Mission which visited The Gambia in late October estimated 1996 aggregate cereal production at 104 000 tons. This is slightly above the 1995 level and the average of the last five years. Coarse grains production decreased by 1 percent (78 700 tons against 79 500 tons) in 1995 while paddy rice increased by 6 percent (25 400 tons against 23 800 tons).
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory except in Upper River Division following flooding in August. Rice stocks and planned imports are sufficient to cover consumption requirements in the months ahead. The rice market is well supplied but prices are higher than last year. Following flooding in Upper River Division in July/August 1996, a multi-disciplinary team estimated the needs of 150 000 affected persons at 2 235 tons of milled rice and recommended the purchase of early millet, maize and rice seeds to be distributed before the 1997/98 cropping season. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports in 1996/97 are estimated at 110 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 13 000 tons.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
19 |
81 |
100 |
|
Normal Imports |
20 |
80 |
3 |
103 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
|
1996/97 Domestic Availability |
- |
17 |
83 |
100 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
25 |
79 |
104 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
17 |
79 |
96 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
|
1996/97 Utilization |
20 |
97 |
93 |
210 |
|
Food Use |
17 |
84 |
80 |
181 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
4 |
13 |
18 |
|
(Re-)Exports |
2 |
5 |
- |
7 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
4 |
- |
4 |
|
1996/97 Import Requirement |
20 |
80 |
10 |
110 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
19 |
78 |
- |
97 |
|
Food aid needs |
1 |
2 |
10 |
13 |
|
Current Aid Position |
- |
|||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
14 |
71 |
68 |
153 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
104 |
|||
|
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: |
107 |
|||
|
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
217 |