| Area: | 465 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | months in south to 4 months in extreme north |
| Population: | 14.32 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 650 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Chad |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | Jan./Dec.; Lean season: June-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 39 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Following a late start of rains and irregular rainfall during the growing season, crop prospects are below average. Heavy rains in August and September caused flooding in the Lake Tchad, Mayo-Danay, Faro and Mayo-Rey regions, which damaged infrastructures and reduced crop output. No significant activity of African Migratory Locusts has been reported following the infestations of late 1997.
With the start of the harvesting period, food prices are decreasing and food availability is satisfactory. Some food supply difficulties were reported in the flooded areas. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 250 000 tonnes of wheat and rice, and 10 000 tonnes of coarse grains. Following a government appeal for international food assistance, a WFP Emergency Operation provided 6 000 tonnes of relief food for 210 000 people in the extreme north. A new operation is currently under preparation.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 1 | 82 | 1 053 | 1 136 |
| Normal Imports | 200 | 40 | 15 | 255 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | 0 | 54 | 1 140 | 1 195 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 0 | 80 | 1 080 | 1 160 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | 0 | 54 | 1 080 | 1 135 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| 1998 Utilization | 210 | 94 | 1 150 | 1 455 |
| Food Use | 196 | 84 | 915 | 1 196 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Non-food use | 4 | 10 | 225 | 239 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 10 | - | 10 | 20 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 210 | 40 | 10 | 260 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 210 | 38 | 5 | 253 |
| Food aid needs | - | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 14 | 6 | 67 | 87 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 102 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 102 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 175 |
