FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.20
| Area: | 475 440 sq km |
| Climate: | North: tropical wet-dry, south: tropical wet; length of rainy season declines from 11 months in south to 4 months in extreme north |
| Population: | 15.9 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$580 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Chad |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: June-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 39 percent |
Rains started in the south in March. They became particularly abundant in the south and centre in April and reached the north in late May, permitting land preparation and first plantings. Precipitation decreased and remained below average in June.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Cereal imports (including re-exports) in the 2002 marketing year are estimated at 310 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 86 | 1 183 | 1 269 |
| Previous five years average imports | 205 | 106 | 10 | 321 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 0 | 59 | 1 183 | 1 242 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 0 | 86 | 1 183 | 1 270 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 0 | 59 | 1 183 | 1 242 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Utilization | 220 | 139 | 1 193 | 1 552 |
| Food use | 206 | 128 | 938 | 1 273 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 4 | 10 | 250 | 264 |
| Exports or re-exports | 10 | - | 5 | 15 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 220 | 80 | 10 | 3101/ |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 220 | 78 | 10 | 308 |
| Food aid needs | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| of which: delivered | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 13 | 8 | 59 | 80 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 100 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 97 |
1/ Includes 10 000 tonnes of wheat for re-exports.