Agriculture

One of the poorest and most underdeveloped in the world, the Comorian economy is based primarily on agriculture.

The agricultural sector divides naturally into two parts: subsistence farming and farming for export. Subsistence farming, which provides the staples making up three-quarters of the islanders' diet, consists of coconuts, cassava, bananas and rice. Small quantities of fish are also eaten as well as very small amounts of meat.

Because of extensive land holdings in the hands of foreign companies and a traditional ruling elite, land for subsistence agriculture is inadequate to meet local needs; some 50% of the annual budget is spent on importing food and less than one-tenth of the active population is formally employed.

As world food prices rise and the price of Comorian exports falls, the country's trade deficit grows steadily.