FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.47
| Area: | 1 267 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Northern part arid, southern part semi-arid with rains in June-October |
| Population: | 10.67 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$170 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked Sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet and sorghum, pulses, roots and tubers |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 70 percent |
Good rains from late July through August remained widespread over the main producing areas in September. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in early October gave a provisional estimate of the aggregate output of cereals at around 3 million tonnes. This is similar to the previous year level and above average.
Harvesting has started in most regions, improving cereal supply and reducing prices on markets. Farmers should be able to reconstitute their stocks as well as the government the national security stock at its optimum level of 35 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 9 | 60 | 2 486 | 2 555 |
| Previous five years average imports | 58 | 133 | 274 | 465 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 12 | 103 | 3 056 | 3 172 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 2 | 82 | 3 006 | 3 090 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 2 | 53 | 3 006 | 3 062 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | 50 | 50 | 110 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 57 | 253 | 3 236 | 3 547 |
| Food use | 51 | 243 | 2 760 | 3 055 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 10 | 461 | 472 |
| Exports or re-exports | 5 | - | 15 | 20 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 45 | 150 | 180 | 375 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 150 | 180 | 375 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 4 | 20 | 232 | 257 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 121 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 81 |