FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.21
| Area: | 4 033 sq km |
| Climate: | Semi-arid; rainfall increases with altitude; rainy season: July-December |
| Population: | 457 000 (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$1 330 (2000) |
| 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 |
The weather remained mostly dry until early August on all islands. This situation may seriously affect crop production as planting of maize normally starts in July. Land preparation and early dry plantings are underway on most producing islands, notably on Santiago island. Following the 2001 reduced harvest, 45 830 kg of bean seeds and 67 000 kg of maize seeds have been distributed with the assistance of an FAO emergency project.
2001 maize production (virtually the only cereal produced in the country) has been estimated at 18 680 tonnes which is 23 percent lower than the previous year but some 5 000 tonnes higher than average. In early January 2002 the country experienced unseasonable heavy rains and floods which caused damage to infrastructure and farmland. In anticipation of a tight food supply situation in several areas, the Government has appealed for international food assistance, as well as agricultural inputs. In early June, WFP approved an emergency operation to assist some 30 000 people throughout the country.
Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 marketing year (November/October) is forecast at 93 000 tonnes, with food aid accounting for more than 50 percent.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| Previous five years average imports | 21 | 31 | 38 | 90 |
| 2001/02 Domestic Availability | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | - | 19 | 19 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2001/02 Utilization | 23 | 30 | 59 | 112 |
| Food use | 23 | 30 | 51 | 104 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2001/02 Import Requirement | 23 | 30 | 40 | 93 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 5 | 20 | 20 | 45 |
| Food aid needs | 18 | 10 | 20 | 48 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 11 | 7 | 21 | 40 |
| of which: delivered | 4 | 5 | 7 | 17 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 50 | 66 | 111 | 227 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 134 | |||
| 2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: | 103 |