FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report 02/97

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UGANDA

Area:

200 000 sq.km

Climate:

North-east is semi-arid, rest of the country is tropical wet-dry; main rainy period is

March-October


Population:

21.96 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 190 (1993)

Specific characteristics of the country:

Low-income food-deficit country

Logistics:

Ports: Mombasa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); roads and railways

inadequate


Major foodcrops:

Roots, tubers, plantains, pulses, maize, millet, sorghum

Marketing year:

January/December; Lean season: April-May

Share of cereals in total calorie intake:

35 percent



CURRENT SITUATION

Harvesting of the 1996 second season cereal crops is well underway. The output is anticipated to be below normal reflecting insufficient and poorly distributed rains during the season in eastern parts of the country. The first "long rains" season cereal crop, harvested earlier in the year, was lower than anticipated and, as a result, the country’s maize export surplus will be limited in 1996/97.

Prices of food staples, beans and cassava, which had increased to record high during November, declined in December with the beginning of the harvest, but remain above their level of the previous year.

In the northern districts of Gulu, Moyo and Kitgum, representing over one-third of the country’s territory) persistent civil strife resulted in reduced plantings of the 1996 second season. Intensified fighting in December, mainly around Gulu town, have resulted in massive displacement of local population and Sudanese refugees. These population are in precarious food and health situation, as they are unable to gather their crops, normally harvested from December, due to the insecurity. Market prices in the region have more than doubled their level of December 1996, while malnutrition is reported to be widespread in the area.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1997 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

Wheat

Rice

Coarse grains

Total

Normal Production (rice in paddy terms)

9

66

1 695

1 770

Normal Imports

18

-

10

28

of which: Structural food aid

15

-

10

25

1997 Domestic Availability

9

55

1 870

1 934

1996 Production (rice in paddy terms)

9

83

1 865

1 957

1996 Production (rice in milled terms)

9

55

1 865

1 929

Possible stock drawdown

-

-

5

5

1997 Utilization

24

61

1 870

1 955

Food Use

24

61

1 353

1 438

of which: local purchase requirement

-

-

-

-

Non-food use

-

-

367

367

Exports or Re-exports

-

-

150

150

Possible stock build up

-

-

-

-

1997 Import Requirement

15

6

-

21

Anticipated commercial imports

13

6

-

19

Food aid needs

2

-

-

2

Current Aid Position





Food aid pledges

-

-

25

25

of which: Delivered

-

-

25

25

Donor-financed purchases for export

-

-

4

4

Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)

1

3

62

66

Indexes





1996 production as % of normal:




111

1997 import requirement as % of normal:




75

1997 food aid requirement as % of normal:




8


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