| Area: | 4 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Semi-arid; rainfall increases with altitude; rainy season: July-December |
| Population: | 417 000 (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 960 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago |
| Logistics: | Port capacity and roads adequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, rice, pulses |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: n.a. since 90 percent of requirements covered by imports |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 57 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
In early November, a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission with national services estimated the 1998 maize production at 3 400 tonnes, which is below last year’s reduced harvest and below average, mainly due to insufficient rain.
Following this poor crop, some sections of the rural population will be highly vulnerable and may need food assistance. However, despite several successive poor harvests, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory as the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement. Substantial food aid contributions are already pledged for 1998/99 and several deliveries are planned in November and December.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Normal Imports | 20 | 20 | 45 | 85 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 16 | 15 | 25 | 56 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | - | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 20 | 27 | 53 | 100 |
| Food Use | 18 | 26 | 52 | 96 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 20 | 25 | 50 | 95 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 10 | 25 | 40 |
| Food aid needs | 15 | 15 | 25 | 55 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 18 | 10 | 18 | 46 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 42 | 61 | 121 | 224 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 49 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 112 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 98 |
