| Area: | 124 320 sq.km |
| Climate: | Highland areas: tropical wet/dry with unreliable rains. Lowlands: semi-arid to arid |
| Population: | 2.899 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: n.a. |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate, gateway to northern Ethiopia |
| Major foodcrops: | Sorghum, teff, millet, maize, pulses |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: August-November |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 73 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Seasonal dry weather prevailed in most of the country in January and February. The 1997 main season grain output is estimated at the same reduced level of the previous year. Unseasonable rains in October, at harvest time, led to spoilage in stacks of harvested cereals and reduced yields of the crops already adversely affected by a dry spell in September, when the crops were at the critical maturing stage. Also, as a result of the unexpected heavy rains, high levels of locust infestations were reported in northern parts but control operations have been undertaken.
Cereal prices, which had increased sharply in November reflecting the anticipated poor output, continued to raise in January. With a below-average cereal harvest for the third consecutive year and a sharp reduction in grain import availability from neighbouring Ethiopia, the food situation will be tight in the year ahead.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
12 |
- |
118 |
130 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
12 |
- |
118 |
130 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
12 |
- |
118 |
130 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
152 |
- |
258 |
410 |
|
Food Use |
152 |
- |
258 |
410 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
140 |
- |
140 |
280 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
100 |
- |
100 |
200 |
|
Food aid needs |
40 |
- |
40 |
80 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
44 |
- |
4 |
48 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
52 |
- |
89 |
141 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: | ||||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: | ||||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
