FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.27
| Area: | 322 460 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons (March-July and September-December) in south and one in north (May-Oct.) |
| Population: | 15.32 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$630 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Mali |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, fruit, rice, maize |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-July |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 40 percent |
The harvesting of the first maize crop and the sowing of the second crop have been completed. The harvesting of the other cereals, mostly rice, is underway and will continue until December. However, well below normal rainfall in September and October may have affected the second maize crop. A reduction in rice and other cereal production is forecast this year as a result of unfavourable weather and the conflicts that forced many farmers to leave their land and disrupted marketing activities.
Production of cereals in 2001 is estimated at 1.8 million tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), fractionally higher than previous year's above average harvest.
On 19 September, fighting broke out in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Korogho between a military rebel group and government forces. In Abidjan, thousands of people living in the shanty town areas were displaced when government forces burnt houses in a search of rebels. Most of them have insufficient access to basic needs including food. In Bouake, worsening conditions including lack of food supplies have prompted many residents to flee. According to the Red Cross between 150 000 and 200 000 residents have fled the town, whose population used to be about 600 000.
A serious food supply situation is reported for the vulnerable people in the areas controlled by the rebels and for the displaced persons in transit centres. WFP has launched a three-month Regional Emergency Operation to assist 94 000 people affected by the conflict, with 4 145 tonnes of food. The bulk of this operation will take place in Côte d'Ivoire but will also cover neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 998 | 730 | 1 728 |
| Previous five years average imports | 285 | 640 | 9 | 934 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 10 | 683 | 730 | 1 423 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 1 055 | 730 | 1 785 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 633 | 730 | 1 363 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | 50 | - | 60 |
| 2002 Utilization | 280 | 1 433 | 735 | 2 448 |
| Food use | 275 | 1 275 | 561 | 2 111 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 5 | 158 | 164 | 327 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 270 | 750 | 5 | 1 025 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 270 | 735 | 5 | 1 010 |
| Food aid needs | - | 15 | - | 15 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 15 | - | 15 |
| of which: delivered | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 18 | 83 | 37 | 138 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 103 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 110 |