Area:
|
111 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (Mar.-Jul. and Oct.) and one in north
|
Population:
|
5.63 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput US$ 380 (1997)
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
|
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
|
Logistics:
|
Ports, roads, rail adequate; gateway to Niger
|
Major foodcrops:
|
Roots and tubers, maize
|
Marketing year:
|
January/December; Lean season: April-June
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
37 percent
|
Planted areas in 1998 were above normal, except for groundnuts. 1998 aggregate cereal output should be close to average but below 1997's level, and current estimates point to a production of about 800 000 tonnes.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following the harvest of the main crops. Reduced demand from the sahelian countries that also had good harvests, is causing prices to remain low. The cereal import requirement for 1999 (January/December) is estimated at 200 000 tonnes (including re-exports) of wheat and rice.
Wheat
|
Rice
|
Coarse grains
|
Total
| |
Normal Production
|
-
|
12
|
605
|
617
|
Normal Imports
|
50
|
150
|
8
|
208
|
of which: Structural food aid
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
16
|
1999 Domestic Availability
|
-
|
15
|
775
|
790
|
1998 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
-
|
25
|
775
|
800
|
1998 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
-
|
15
|
775
|
790
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1999 Utilization
|
60
|
155
|
775
|
990
|
Food Use
|
50
|
74
|
525
|
649
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Non-food use
|
-
|
4
|
215
|
219
|
Exports or Re-exports
|
10
|
75
|
25
|
110
|
Possible stock build up
|
-
|
2
|
10
|
12
|
1999 Import Requirement
|
60
|
1401/
|
-
|
200
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
55
|
140
|
-
|
195
|
Food aid needs
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
Food aid pledges
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
of which: Delivered
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
of which: for local use
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
for export
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)
|
9
|
13
|
92
|
114
|
Indexes
|
||||
1998 production as % of normal:
|
130
| |||
1999 import requirement as % of normal:
|
96
| |||
1999 food aid requirement as % of normal:
|
31
|