FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.46
Area: | 823 000 sq km | |
Climate: | Mostly arid (south-west and coast) or semi-arid. Only north and north-east gets regular rainfall in November-April | |
Population: | 1.98 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$2 030 (2000) | |
Specific characteristics of the country: | Arid to semi-arid country; cereal production mainly in the north | |
Logistics: | Good road and railway network | |
Major foodcrops: | Millet, maize, sorghum, wheat | |
Marketing year: | May/April; | |
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 48 percent |
The 2002 cereal crop was sharply reduced. Final official estimates indicate a cereal output of 69 000 tonnes, 36 percent below last year’s normal level. Insufficient rains at planting time sharply reduce the area sown to millet/sorghum and maize, while a dry spell in January adversely affected yields. Subsequent precipitation arrived too late to prevent yield reductions. The cereal import requirement in 2002/03 (May/April) is estimated at 156 000 tonnes. The food supply situation is anticipated to be tight in the remainder of the year, particularly for farmers who gathered a poor harvest last year and for vulnerable groups in urban areas.
Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
Previous five years average production | 5 | - | 105 | 110 |
Previous five years average imports | 56 | - | 92 | 148 |
2002/03 Domestic Availability | 6 | - | 75 | 81 |
2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 6 | - | 63 | 69 |
2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 6 | - | 63 | 69 |
Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 12 | 12 |
2002/03 Utilization | 54 | - | 183 | 237 |
Food use | 53 | - | 176 | 229 |
of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
Non-food use | - | - | 7 | 7 |
Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
Possible stock build up | 1 | - | - | 1 |
2002/03 Import Requirement | 48 | - | 108 | 156 |
Anticipated commercial imports | 48 | - | 108 | 156 |
Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
Current Aid Position | ||||
Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
for export | - | - | - | - |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 28 | - | 95 | 124 |
Indexes | ||||
2002 Production as % of average: | 63 | |||
2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 105 |