Area:
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318 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons (March-July and September-December) in south and one in north (May-Oct.)
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Population:
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15.2 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 700 (1998)
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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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Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Mali
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, fruit, rice, maize
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Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: April to July
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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40 percent
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Rains have started in the south and the centre in mid-March allowing planting of the first maize crop. Abundant precipitation covered the entire country during the first dekad of May. It decreased in mid-May but was well above average countrywide during the third dekad, benefiting planting and emergence of millet and sorghum crops in the north. Rains decreased in June and became very limited during the first dekad of July, which might cause water stress if precipitation does not improve in the following weeks.
Production of rice in 1999 increased compared to 1998 due to good rains and larger plantings. Following a good cereal harvest in 1999, estimated at almost 1.8 million tonnes (with rice in paddy), the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement for the 2000 marketing year is estimated at 675 000 tonnes, mainly rice and wheat. Some 100 000 Liberian refugees and 1 500 Sierra Leoneans are present in the west.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 1 002 | 728 | 1 730 |
| Previous five years average imports | 265 | 355 | 15 | 635 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 10 | 586 | 793 | 1 388 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 976 | 793 | 1 769 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 586 | 793 | 1 378 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | - | 10 |
| 2000 Utilization | 280 | 986 | 798 | 2 063 |
| Food Use | 270 | 799 | 580 | 1 649 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 5 | 146 | 188 | 339 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 5 | - | 10 | 15 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 40 | 20 | 60 |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 270 | 400 | 5 | 675 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 270 | 380 | 5 | 655 |
| Food aid needs | - | 20 | - | 20 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 18 | 53 | 38 | 109 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 102 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 106 |
