FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3, December 1999 BENIN 2

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BENIN

Area:
111 000 sq.km
Climate:
Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (Mar.-Jul. and Oct.) and one in north (May-Oct.)
Population:
5.68 million (1999 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


CURRENT SITUATION


Generally above-normal rains have been received since August. Harvest prospects are generally favourable. However, torrential rains caused flooding in many villages and thousands of people were displaced. Infestations of armyworms caused damage to emerging millet, sorghum and maize in Atakora and Borgou departments.

Food supply is satisfactory in the south. Prices remain lower than in 1998 mainly because Sahelian countries imported less this year and farmers needed to sell more to compensate for low cotton incomes.


CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1999 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)


 

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

774

789

1998 Production (rice in paddy terms)

-

25

774

799

1998 Production (rice in milled terms)

-

15

774

789

Possible stock drawdown

-

-

-

-

1999 Utilization

60

155

774

989

Food Use

50

74

525

648

of which: local purchase requirement

-

-

1

1

Non-food use

-

4

214

219

Exports or Re-exports

10

75

25

110 1/

Possible stock build up

-

2

10

12

1999 Import Requirement

60

140

-

200

Anticipated commercial imports

55

140

-

195

Food aid needs

5

-

-

5

Current Aid Position

       

Food aid pledges

12

5

1

18

of which: Delivered

12

5

1

18

Donor-financed purchases

-

-

1

1

of which: for local use

-

-

1

1

for export

-

-

-

-

Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)

9

13

92

114

Indexes

       

1998 production as % of normal:

     

129

1999 import requirement as % of normal:

     

96

1999 food aid requirement as % of normal:

     

31


1/ Includes 75 000 tonnes of re-exports of rice and 10 000 tonnes of wheat.

FAO/GIEWS - December 1999

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