Area:
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1 025 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme south with rains in June-September
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Population:
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2.57 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 450 (1997)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Port capacity adequate, though storms during January-March sometimes cause difficulties
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Major foodcrops:
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Wheat, rice, millet and sorghum
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Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: July-September
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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54 percent
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Widespread rains in early July permitted plantings to start in the south. The weather was mostly dry up to late June. Widespread and above normal rains covered the south and the south-east in early July where they permitted land preparation and wet plantings to start. The good rains will also favour regeneration of pastures.
Low numbers of solitary Desert Locusts adults are likely to appear in central and southern areas where they will eventually lay eggs once the seasonal rains commence. No significant developments are likely.
1998 cereal production is estimated at 195 400 tonnes, 14 percent above average. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of rice are stable and below the 1998 level. Localised shortages are likely following reduced crops in some areas. The most vulnerable areas are Aftout and Affolé where WFP has undertaken a rapid rural appraisal mission in late March and estimated the food aid needs at 6 897 tonnes for 161 692 persons. A recent FEWS Assessment Mission in late May confirmed the seriousness of food supply difficulties in Aftout and Affolé. The cereal import requirement (including re-exports) for 1998/99 (November/October) is estimated at 310 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 35 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 64 | 107 | 171 |
| Normal Imports | 180 | 80 | 15 | 275 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 18 | 7 | 5 | 30 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 20 | 68 | 94 | 181 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 102 | 94 | 195 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 68 | 94 | 161 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 20 | - | - | 20 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 220 | 148 | 124 | 491 |
| Food Use | 180 | 121 | 107 | 408 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Non-food use | 25 | 12 | 15 | 52 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 15 | 5 | 1 | 21 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 200 1/ | 80 | 30 | 310 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 185 | 70 | 20 | 175 |
| Food aid needs | 15 | 10 | 10 | 35 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 5 | 10 | 1 | 17 |
| of which: Delivered | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 70 | 47 | 42 | 159 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 114 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 113 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 117 |
