FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.42
| Area: | 1 240 190 sq km |
| Climate: | From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 10.68 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$240 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked Sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season; river transport important; rail link to Dakar (Senegal) |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, sorghum, rice, maize |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 75 percent |
Following the first significant rains in the extreme south in April, precipitation progressed northwards but remained erratic in most regions until late June when growing conditions improved considerably in the central, eastern and northern regions. Floods are reported in the northern locality of Goundan (Tombouctou) and the capital Bamako. By contrast, rainfall decreased during the last dekad of July in the western region of Kayes where planted coarse grains are reportedly suffering water stress. Due to the earlier drier weather, cumulative rainfall as of late July was below the same period last year and below average in most meteorological stations. Plantings and replantings are still underway. Crops are generally emerging but early planted maize, millet and sorghum are tillering/elongating. Rice is emerging or being transplanted in the “office du Niger” and the “office de développement rural de Sélingué”. Pastures are generally growing well but remain poor in the northern part of Kayes and Koulikoro.
Following well above-average cereal harvest in 2001, estimated at 2.87 million tonnes (including paddy), the overall food situation is satisfactory. Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 (November/October) is estimated at 90 000 tonnes, including 5 000 tonnes of wheat as food aid.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 5 | 678 | 1 752 | 2 435 |
| Previous five years average imports | 49 | 59 | 4 | 112 |
| 2001/02 Domestic Availability | 11 | 571 | 2 016 | 2 599 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 9 | 840 | 2 016 | 2 866 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 9 | 571 | 2 016 | 2 597 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| 2001/02 Utilization | 61 | 611 | 2 016 | 2 689 |
| Food use | 60 | 436 | 1 635 | 2 131 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 105 | 306 | 413 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | 50 | 75 | 125 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 20 | - | 20 |
| 2001/02 Import Requirement | 50 | 40 | - | 90 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 40 | - | 85 |
| Food aid needs | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| of which: delivered | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 6 | 41 | 153 | 200 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 118 | |||
| 2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: | 80 |