| Area: | 54 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in north |
| Population: | 4.31 million (1998 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 330 (1997) |
| 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
Harvesting of the main millet, sorghum and rice crops is drawing to an end. The late start of the growing season and irregular rainfall might have reduced crop output in the south, including rice. In the centre and the north, maize, millet and sorghum crops benefited from adequate growing conditions and the output is expected to be above last year’s level.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. Food prices are decreasing following the start of the harvesting period. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 176 000 tonnes of wheat and rice (including re-exports).
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 32 | 460 | 492 |
| Normal Imports | 50 | 60 | 10 | 120 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | 47 | 648 | 695 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 69 | 648 | 717 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 47 | 648 | 695 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Utilization | 50 | 173 | 648 | 871 |
| Food Use | 46 | 69 | 405 | 520 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 2 | 14 | 188 | 204 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 2 | 90 | 35 | 127 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 501/ | 1262/ | - | 176 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | 126 | - | 176 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 11 | 16 | 94 | 121 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 146 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 147 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
