| Area: | 192 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Semi-arid in north, tropical wet-dry in south, with rains in June-October |
| Population: | 9.0 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 600 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Port capacity adequate; gateway to Mali. |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet and sorghum, rice, maize, wheat |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: August-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 61 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Following first sporadic rains in the extreme south in mid-May, the rainy season actually started in the extreme south-east in early June. Rains progressed to the centre and the west from mid-June but the weather remained mostly dry in the north up to late July. The late start of the rains will limit the duration of the growing season. Following the onset of the rains in late July, wet planting of coarse grains is progressing towards the centre and the north. Dry plantings had also been undertaken in several areas. Harvesting of off-season irrigated rice is underway in St Louis region in the north.
Pastures have started to regenerate following recent rains in the north. Treatments against grain eating birds have been undertaken in the Senegal River region.
Following a reduced 1997 cereal harvest due to a long dry spell in July/August 1997, the overall food supply situation will be tight in the affected areas during the lean season. In the urban areas, food supply is adequate and prices of rice are stable, reflecting substantial commercial imports by traders. In rural areas, supplies and prices of rice are also generally stable but prices of coarse grains are increasing, notably in the north and the centre-north. In January, the Government launched an appeal for food assistance amounting to 82 600 tonnes of cereals to cover the needs of about 2.5 million affected people. It allocated a total of about 7 billion CFA Francs to buy food locally and distribute it to vulnerable populations. Distributions are now underway.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 176 | 828 | 1 004 |
| Normal Imports | 175 | 380 | 60 | 615 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
| 1997/98 Domestic Availability | 6 | 189 | 672 | 868 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 199 | 619 | 818 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 139 | 619 | 759 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 6 | 50 | 53 | 109 |
| 1997/98 Utilization | 206 | 599 | 842 | 1 648 |
| Food Use | 203 | 575 | 717 | 1 495 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 3 | 24 | 126 | 153 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1997/98 Import Requirement | 200 | 410 | 170 | 780 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 195 | 400 | 100 | 695 |
| Food aid needs | 5 | 10 | 70 | 85 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 6 | - | 6 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 23 | 64 | 80 | 166 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 82 | |||
| 1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: | 127 | |||
| 1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 607 |
