| Area: | 274 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry in south, semi-arid in north; one rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 10.56 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 230 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; sahelian land-locked country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season; adequate rail link to Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, sorghum, pulses, maize |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 73 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The rainy season is now well established over the entire country. All regions registered good rains in June, compared to June 1996, when dry weather lasted up to two dekads notably in Dori and Ouahigouya areas. However, rains decreased in early July in the north. In the west, the south-west and the south, cereal crops are emerging/tillering. In the east and the centre, plantings are drawing to a close; crops are emerging in Oubritenga and Kompienga. In the north, and centre-north, plantings are underway. In the Sahel provinces, about 40 % of areas are planted. By contrast, plantings are only starting in low-lying areas of Oudalan, Soum and Yagah in the north. At national level, by late June, it was estimated that about 60 % of the areas had been planted. Grasshoppers are reported in several areas of the north and the east.
Following this good harvest, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied. Cereal prices remain mostly stable but higher than average in several provinces due to substantial exports to the capital or to neighbouring countries. A few departments may face some food supply difficulties notably in the north where the price of millet is high. The government has provided cereals for the "banques de céréales" in the areas at risk. Deficits in northern provinces can be covered by transfer of cereals from the south, for which external assistance may be required. Cereal needs for ongoing food aid programmes can also be covered by local purchases. There are about 24 000 Tuareg refugees from Mali who are currently receiving food assistance. Their nutritional status is reported to be stable.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
60 |
2 400 |
2 460 |
|
Normal Imports |
40 |
75 |
35 |
150 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
5 |
3 |
25 |
33 |
|
1996/97 Domestic Availability |
- |
74 |
2 500 |
2 574 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
112 |
2 370 |
2 482 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
74 |
2 370 |
2 444 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
130 |
130 |
|
1996/97 Utilization |
40 |
137 |
2 520 |
2 697 |
|
Food Use |
37 |
109 |
2 129 |
2 275 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
25 |
25 |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
13 |
366 |
380 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
5 |
25 |
30 |
|
Possible stock build up |
2 |
10 |
- |
12 |
|
1996/97 Import Requirement |
40 |
63 |
20 |
123 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
35 |
60 |
10 |
105 |
|
Food aid needs |
5 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
13 |
10 |
4 |
27 |
|
of which: Delivered |
8 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
|
Donor-financed local purchases |
- |
- |
6 |
6 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
3 |
10 |
202 |
215 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
101 |
|||
|
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: |
82 |
|||
|
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
55 |