| Area: | 10 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry climate; one rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 1.224 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 320 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Port capacity and roads adequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, millet and sorghum |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 63 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
First rains were registered in mid-June in the east and the centre. They increased in late June in the east allowing large wet planting of coarse grains. Plantings progressed in the west following the onset of the rains in mid-July.
Due to a long dry spell in July/August 1997, the 1997 aggregate cereal output was well below the 1996 output and substantially below average. In late April, the Government launched an appeal for international assistance amounting to 9 325 tonnes of cereals.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 20 | 79 | 99 |
| Normal Imports | 20 | 80 | 3 | 103 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 1997/98 Domestic Availability | - | 21 | 89 | 110 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 24 | 89 | 113 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 16 | 89 | 105 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 1997/98 Utilization | 20 | 101 | 99 | 220 |
| Food Use | 17 | 88 | 83 | 187 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 3 | 17 | 21 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 2 | 10 | - | 12 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1997/98 Import Requirement | 20 | 80 | 10 | 110 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 19 | 75 | - | 94 |
| Food aid needs | 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 14 | 72 | 68 | 153 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 114 | |||
| 1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: | 107 | |||
| 1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 229 |
