| Area: | 784 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid |
| Population: | 19.09 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 90 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; exposed to tropical storms and cyclones |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated rail and road transport fleet; lack of fuel and spares; poor roads; substantial deliveries by coastal vessels; disruption by guerrillas |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize |
| Marketing year: | March/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 53 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Some rains received in late October favoured early planting of the 1998/99 cereal crop. In 1998, increased area planted and good yields resulted in cereal production of 1.69 million tonnes, higher than both last year and the average for the last five years. Production of cassava, groundnuts and beans also increased significantly.
Following several years of steady increase in food production, the overall food supply position has improved further in the current marketing year. The import requirement in rice and wheat in 1998/99, estimated at 67 000 tonnes and 145 000 tonnes, respectively, will be met by private sector imports. Food assistance is anticipated only in localized areas where floods and drought caused some crop losses.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 50 | 458 | 508 |
| Normal Imports | 102 | 60 | 244 | 406 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 102 | 52 | 140 | 294 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 13 | 128 | 1 494 | 1 635 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 192 | 1 494 | 1 686 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 128 | 1 494 | 1 622 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 13 | - | - | 13 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 158 | 195 | 1 494 | 1 847 |
| Food Use | 151 | 170 | 1 225 | 1 546 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 7 | 15 | 172 | 194 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 59 | 59 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 10 | 38 | 48 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 145 | 67 | - | 212 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 145 | 67 | - | 212 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 136 | 23 | - | 159 |
| of which: Delivered | 50 | 2 | - | 52 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 8 | 9 | 64 | 81 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 332 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 52 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
