Reference Date: 04-June-2026

Above‑average rainfall amounts during first half of 2026, may adversely affect secondary maize crop yields

The country’s main food crops are cassava and plantains, but some small quantities of maize are produced. Sowing operations of cassava typically take place from January to March and are followed by planting activities of maize until the end of May. The growing cycle of maize crops, from planting to harvest, generally lasts about four to five months. Planting of the 2026 secondary season maize crop, to be harvested in June and July, was completed in March. Precipitation amounts have been at an above‑average level since the beginning of the season, resulting in flooding and soil oversaturation, which have likely affected yields.

Cereal import requirements in 2026 forecast at above‑average level driven by low domestic cereal production

Imports of cereals account for approximately 90 percent of the total cereal utilization. With a population of about 2.2 million people, total cereal import requirements in 2026 are forecast at an above‑average level of 255 000 tonnes, including about 170 000 tonnes of wheat and 70 000 tonnes of rice, reflecting rising domestic demand, amid limited domestic cereal production capacity.

National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast at about 2.7 percent in 2026

The national economy is dominated by the petroleum sector, while agriculture contributes only to a small portion of the national GDP. In 2024, the GDP grew by approximately 2.4 percent, primarily due to a surge in crude oil prices, while in 2025 the GDP growth was about 2.5 percent. In 2026, the economy is forecast to grow by about 2.7 percent. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) , the annual inflation rate was estimated at 3 percent in 2024 and at 2.6 percent in 2025, while it is forecast at 2.5 percent in 2026, mainly reflecting easing domestic food prices.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .