| Area: | 1 259 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: May-Oct. |
| Population: | 7.066 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 180 (1995) |
| 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 |
CURRENT SITUATION
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Harvesting of recession crops is underway. Recent surveys indicate that production is not going to be significantly reduced following African Migratory Locusts infestations which were reported in late 1997 in Chari and Baguirmi, the main recession crop producing zones. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October estimated total cereal production for 1997/98 at 994 000 tonnes which is 13 percent up from 1996 and 9 percent above the five-year average. Reflecting better prospects for recession crops than anticipated, this figure is likely to be revised slightly upwards.
The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be better in 1997/98 than in 1996/97. Markets are generally well supplied and millet prices have declined in the Sahelian zone, except in Kanem and parts of Batha prefectures where they increased slightly. They are generally lower than the previous year at the same period, thus improving terms of trade for pastoralists. Some population movements have been reported in north Kanem and in bordering areas of Batha, Guéra and Ouddaï. Local purchases have started to reconstitute the national security stock, whose recommended level is 22 000 tonnes. Donors are urged to assist with local purchases for the reconstitution of the national security stock which was exhausted at the end of the last growing year. The national early warning system (SAP) recommended the provision of 5 155 tonnes of food aid to assist about 237 000 persons for two to four months in areas classified as at risk of food supply difficulties.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
3 |
82 |
828 |
913 |
|
Normal Imports |
45 |
10 |
10 |
65 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
- |
2 |
10 |
12 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
4 |
99 |
877 |
979 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
4 |
144 |
847 |
994 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
4 |
99 |
847 |
949 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
30 |
30 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
67 |
109 |
877 |
1 052 |
|
Food Use |
66 |
72 |
724 |
861 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
20 |
20 |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
17 |
143 |
161 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
10 |
10 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
20 |
- |
20 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
63 |
10 |
- |
73 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
53 |
10 |
- |
63 |
|
Food aid needs |
10 |
- |
- |
10 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
30 |
- |
8 |
38 |
|
of which: Delivered |
3 |
- |
- |
3 |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
9 |
10 |
102 |
122 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
109 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
112 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
83 |
