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afrol News, 29 October - After two years of good harvest, Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Maria Neves last week oriented the Parliament of very bad harvests for 2001. The situation was "critical" on the island of Santo Antão, where production had been "close to zero". The bad news came as to underline last weeks UN analysis, characterising Cape Verde as "one of the world's most vulnerable countries to draught." Depending on national harvests, between 80 and 90 percent of the alimentation consumed on archipelago has to be imported, according to the UN. Prime Minister Neves thus asked for international solidarity as the discouraging local numbers of this years harvest are ticking in. He feared this "difficult situation could affect the Cape Verdean population in a significant amount," according to Cabonet. This year's production numbers have still not been published, but there is no doubt they will be far below the positive figures of the last years. In year 2000, the Sahelian islands of Cape Verde were blessed with a maize production estimated at 18,500 tonnes. Though this was significantly below the 1999 record crop is still was well above average. Even in these record years, local production covered only about a quarter of consumption requirements. Food imports and food aid thus will have to be increased this year. There are however fears markets temporally may become short in supply, resulting in rising prices. Sources: Based on FAO, Cabonet and afrol archives
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