FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.42
| Area: | 1 240 190 sq km |
| Climate: | From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 10.94 million (2003 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$210 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked Sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season; river transport important; rail link to Dakar (Senegal) |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, sorghum, rice, maize |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 75 percent |
Following irregular and below-average rains in May and June, precipitation improved in early July and remained widespread and regular until early September. However, it decreased significantly during the last dekad of September.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country from 7 to 11 October estimated 2002 aggregate cereal production at some 2 500 000 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is similar to both last year's good harvest and the average of the last five years. Compared to last year, rice production is forecast to decrease by 13 percent to some 816 000 tonnes, while coarse grains production, estimated at about 1 700 000, increased by 4 percent.
The overall food situation is satisfactory. Overall cereal prices started to decrease. The reconstitution of the National Security Stock to its optimum level of 35 000 tonnes will require the purchase of 15 000 tonnes in 2002/03.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 6 | 741 | 1 761 | 2 508 |
| Previous five years average imports | 53 | 80 | 5 | 138 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 11 | 555 | 1 700 | 2 266 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 11 | 816 | 1 700 | 2 527 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 11 | 555 | 1 700 | 2 266 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 74 | 733 | 1 717 | 2 524 |
| Food use | 73 | 527 | 1 438 | 2 038 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 1 | 106 | 259 | 366 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | 100 | 20 | 120 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 63 | 178 | 17 | 258 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 63 | 178 | 10 | 251 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 7 | 48 | 132 | 186 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 101 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 187 |