Area:
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230 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north
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Population:
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20.2 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 390 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Ports and roads inadequate
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice
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Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: April-June
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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27 percent
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Substantial first rains have been registered in the south during the second dekad of March, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. Severe floods in September 1999 devastated three areas in the Northern Regions as major rivers burst banks. Some 332 000 people have been made homeless by the floods which have destroyed farmlands, crops and livestock and caused an outbreak of cholera in some villages. The aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at 1 686 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent) which is slightly below the output in 1998 and the average.
The food supply situation is tight for the populations affected by flooding. WFP is providing 900 tonnes of maize and 83 tonnes of beans to some 50 000 vulnerable people, including women, children and the elderly in Northern Region (30 000), Upper East Region (12 000) and Upper West Region (8 000). Water and sanitation remains a problem as small dams and wells were destroyed, particularly in the Upper East Region. Many water sources have been contaminated. About 10 000 Liberian refugees remain in the country. Out of these, only 2 000 are receiving food rations. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-export during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 485 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 46 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 204 | 1 528 | 1 732 |
| Normal Imports | 220 | 220 | 25 | 465 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 30 | 5 | 6 | 41 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | - | 150 | 1 546 | 1 696 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 210 | 1 476 | 1 686 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 140 | 1 476 | 1 616 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 10 | 70 | 80 |
| 2000 Utilization | 220 | 370 | 1 591 | 2 181 |
| Food Use | 218 | 340 | 1 261 | 1 818 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 2 | 25 | 325 | 353 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 220 | 220 | 45 | 485 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 190 | 210 | 39 | 439 |
| Food aid needs | 30 | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 20 | - | 12 | 32 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 11 | 17 | 62 | 90 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 97 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 104 | |||
| 2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 112 |
