FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2004 p.15

�� BURKINA FASO

A joint FAO/CILSS Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission that visited the country recently provisionally estimated this year�s cereal output at 3.06 million tonnes, some 14 percent lower than the record crop harvested in 2003 but still above the average for the previous five years. Output of millet, which was seriously damaged by drought and desert locusts, declined by 26 percent to about 881 000 tonnes. Imports of cereal in the marketing year ending in October 2005 are forecast to increase sharply to some 245 000 tonnes. Commercial imports and pledged food aid will largely cover the rice and wheat requirements. However, the shortfall in millet could be more difficult to offset given the low availability and trade of this cereal in the sub-region. This could result in millet being replaced by sorghum and rice. The shortfall could also be partly covered by unregistered imports from neighbouring coastal countries.