Area:
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4 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Semi-arid; rainfall increases with altitude; rainy season: July-December
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Population:
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439 500 (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 960 (1995)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; archipelago
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Logistics:
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Port capacity and roads adequate
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, rice, pulses
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Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: n.a. since 90 percent of requirements covered by imports
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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57 percent
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Land preparation is underway. Scattered limited rains have been registered in late June in the highlands of Santiago island but planting of maize normally starts in July with the onset of regular rains. Following a record harvest in 1999, the availability of seeds is adequate. However, maize seeds have been requested in Praia area on Santiago island and in São Nicolau island. Treatments against Nezara viridula have been undertaken in Santa Cruz area on Santiago island.
1999 maize production has been estimated at a record 25 700 tonnes which is about 5 times higher than in 1998 and the last five-year average. Following this record crop, the overall food supply situation has improved in rural areas affected by several successive poor crops. With normal cereal imports, markets are well supplied and prices are stable. However, the bumper 1999 production will cover only about a quarter of consumption requirement, but available stocks and planned commercial imports or food aid for the year 2000 will be sufficient to cover the deficit. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 70 000 tonnes of which 50 000 tonnes are expected to be received as food aid. About 47 000 tonnes of food aid have been received so far.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Previous five years average imports | 20 | 23 | 43 | 86 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 3 | 5 | 26 | 34 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 26 | 26 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 26 | 26 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 3 | 5 | - | 8 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 23 | 25 | 56 | 104 |
| Food Use | 22 | 24 | 47 | 93 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 20 | 20 | 30 | 70 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Food aid needs | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 31 | 9 | 32 | 72 |
| of which: Delivered | 11 | 4 | 32 | 47 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 50 | 55 | 107 | 211 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 514 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of average: | 81 |
