| Area: | 582 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Eastern coast is tropical wet, the rest tropical wet-dry. Rains in October-March; tropical cyclones |
| Population: | 14.38 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 250 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated roads and lack of spare parts and tyres |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots, tubers, maize, fruit |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February/March |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 60 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Moderate to heavy rains in August and September over the eastern coast were followed by light rainfall in October that favoured the transplanting of the main 1999 paddy crop.
Reflecting lower plantings, paddy production in 1998 is estimated to have decreased by 12 percent to 2.2 million tonnes, the lowest level in recent years. In contrast, production of maize and sorghum increased by some five percent to the average level of 163 000 tonnes. The overall food supply situation in the country in the 1998/99 marketing year is expected to remain relatively stable, including the drought-prone south where some locust damage to crops and pastures has been reported.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 7 | 2 476 | 152 | 2 635 |
| Normal Imports | 48 | 53 | 10 | 111 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 13 | 11 | 10 | 34 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 11 | 1 553 | 162 | 1 726 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 11 | 2 200 | 162 | 2 373 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | 11 | 1 496 | 162 | 1 669 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 57 | - | 57 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 81 | 1 683 | 167 | 1 931 |
| Food Use | 80 | 1 679 | 131 | 1 890 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 4 | 32 | 37 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 70 | 130 | 5 | 205 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 60 | 110 | 5 | 175 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | 20 | - | 30 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| of which: Delivered | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 6 | 117 | 9 | 132 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 90 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 185 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 88 |
