Area:
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465 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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North: tropical wet-dry, south: tropical wet; length of rainy season declines from 11 months in south to 4 months in extreme north
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Population:
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15.1 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 610 (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 adequate; gateway to Chad
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
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Marketing year:
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Jan./Dec.; Lean season: June-August
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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39 percent
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Rains started in March in the south, they progressed northwards in April but reached only in mid-May the extreme north where they permitted land preparation and plantings of millet and sorghum. Precipitation remained below average over the northern half of the country during the first dekad of May and over the entire country during the third dekad. They became widespread and abundant in June and early July, benefiting crop development.
Following an above-average cereal harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory except in some flooded areas in the north. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-export during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 290 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice. Congolese refugees are present in northern Cameroon.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 75 | 1 101 | 1 176 |
| Previous five years average imports | 178 | 84 | 14 | 276 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 0 | 78 | 1 270 | 1 348 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 0 | 100 | 1 250 | 1 350 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 0 | 68 | 1 250 | 1 318 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| 2000 Utilization | 180 | 178 | 1 280 | 1 638 |
| Food Use | 166 | 166 | 1 005 | 1 337 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 4 | 12 | 265 | 281 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 10 | - | 10 | 20 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 180 | 100 | 10 | 290 1/ |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 180 | 98 | 10 | 288 |
| Food aid needs | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 11 | 11 | 67 | 89 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 115 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 105 |
