FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.23
| Area: | 1 284 000 sq km |
| Climate: | From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; rainy season: May-October. |
| Population: | 7.76 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$200 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked Sahelian country. |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet and sorghum, roots and tubers, tree nuts |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: August-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
The start of the rainy season was somewhat erratic. Following the first rains in mid-March in the extreme south and in mid-April in the south-west, precipitation progressed northwards in the Sahelian zone in June. Rainfall was generally irregular and below average in May and June but improved in early July and remained abundant and quite regular in late July. However cumulative rainfall as of late July was generally below average in most meteorological stations due to earlier drier conditions. Millet and sorghum are generally emerging/tillering in the Sudanian zone, while plantings and replantings are still underway in the Sahelian zone. Pastures are regenerating in the Sudanian zone but remain poor in the Sahelian zone. Grasshopper infestations are reported on millet and sorghum in Guéra and Baguirmi regions, while army worms infestations are reported in a few areas of the Sudanian zone.
Following release of final production estimates by national statistical services, the aggregate 2001 cereal production is estimated at a record 1.32 million tonnes, 49 percent higher than the previous year and 23 percent above average. As a result, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory, especially in the chronically food deficit areas in the Sahelian zone which harvested poor crops in 2000. However, some 143 000 people in the Sudanian zone are at risk of food shortages as a result of floods that affected 144 000 hectares of arable land.
Import requirement of cereals in 2001/02 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 71 000 tonnes, including 14 000 tonnes of food aid.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 3 | 112 | 959 | 1 074 |
| Previous five years average imports | 57 | 11 | 14 | 82 |
| 2001/02 Domestic Availability | 9 | 87 | 1 192 | 1 287 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 4 | 127 | 1 192 | 1 322 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 4 | 87 | 1 192 | 1 282 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 2001/02 Utilization | 62 | 102 | 1 195 | 1 358 |
| Food use | 61 | 82 | 880 | 1 023 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 15 | 224 | 240 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 5 | 70 | 75 |
| 2001/02 Import Requirement | 53 | 15 | 3 | 71 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 10 | 2 | 57 |
| Food aid needs | 8 | 5 | 1 | 14 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 11 | 114 | 132 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 123 | |||
| 2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: | 87 |