| Area: | 54 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in north |
| Population: | 4.27 million (1996 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 310 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Niger |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-July |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 40 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The rainy season started in late March and precipitation remained abundant and widespread in April, May and June, decreased in July and stopped in some areas, allowing the harvest of the first maize crop in the south. Rains resumed and became abundant in mid August and in September. As a result of globally good climatic conditions, cereal output in 1997 is expected to be above average. However, as reports show increasing cultivation of cash crops (coffee, cacao and cotton), farmers might have decreased their area planted with foodcrops, which would mean a normal foodcrops production for 1997/98. Millet and sorghum are harvested in the north. Rice is being harvested and the second maize crop is growing satisfactorily in the south.
Markets are well supplied with foodstuffs. About 10 000 refugees from Ghana remain in the country but the overall number declined significantly in 1996 following repatriation which was encouraged by a shift in humanitarian aid policy from relief to rehabilitation, such as provision of seeds and money, and a reduction in food aid distributions.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
32 |
460 |
492 |
|
Normal Imports |
50 |
60 |
10 |
120 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
5 |
- |
- |
5 |
|
1997 Domestic Availability |
- |
52 |
610 |
662 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
77 |
610 |
687 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
52 |
610 |
662 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1997 Utilization |
50 |
82 |
630 |
762 |
|
Food Use |
46 |
54 |
505 |
605 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
2 |
8 |
85 |
95 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
2 |
20 |
20 |
42 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
20 |
20 |
|
1997 Import Requirement |
50 1/ |
30 2/ |
20 |
1003/ |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
45 |
30 |
20 |
95 |
|
Food aid needs |
5 |
- |
- |
5 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
7 |
- |
7 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
3 |
- |
3 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
11 |
13 |
118 |
142 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
140 |
|||
|
1997 import requirement as % of normal: |
83 |
|||
|
1997 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
100 |
