FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - September 2005 p.15
The aggregate 2004 cereal production was estimated at 2.9 million tonnes, which is 19 percent below the record crop harvested in 2003. Output of millet, the most important staple which was seriously damaged by drought and desert locusts, declined by 21 percent. This in addition to limited supply in and reduced imports from neighbouring countries led to very high food prices. Per caput cereal consumption is estimated to drop to about 199 kg this commercial year, compared to 213 kg in 2003/04.
| CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2004/05 MARKETING YEAR (November/October) | ||||
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse Grains | Total Cereals | |
| [ | thousand tonnes | ] | ||
| Previous year production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 96 | 3 469 | 3 564 |
| Previous five years average production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 95 | 2 857 | 2 952 |
| Previous year imports | 47 | 118 | 7 | 171 |
| Previous five years average imports | 55 | 179 | 15 | 249 |
| 2004/05 Domestic Availability | - | 48 | 3 204 | 3 252 |
| 2004 Production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 73 | 2 829 | 2 902 |
| 2004 Production (incl. milled rice) | - | 48 | 2 829 | 2 877 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 375 | 375 |
| 2004/05 Utilization | 47 | 228 | 3 207 | 3 482 |
| Food use | 46 | 220 | 2 478 | 2 744 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 8 | 454 | 463 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 275 | 275 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2004/05 Import Requirement | 47 | 180 | 3 | 230 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 37 | 160 | 1 | 198 |
| of which: received or contracted | 30 | - | - | 30 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | 20 | 2 | 32 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 7 | 22 | 2 | 31 |
| of which: delivered | 4 | 18 | 1 | 23 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 3 | 16 | 180 | 199 |
| Indexes | [ | percentage | ] | |
| 2004 Production compared to average (incl. paddy rice) | - | 77 | 99 | 98 |
| 2004/05 Import requirement compared to average | 86 | 101 | 20 | 92 |
| Cereal share of total calorie intake | 75 | |||
| Additional Information | ||||
| Major foodcrops | millet; sorghum; pulses; maize | |||
| Lean season | July-September | |||
| Population (000s) | 13 798 | |||
| GNI per capita in 2003 (US$) | 300 | |||