FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2002 p.59
| Area: | 56 790 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in North (May-October) |
| Population: | 4.87 million (2002 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: US$270 (2001) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Niger |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-July |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 40 percent |
Following generally widespread precipitation during the rainy season, rains ceased in late October over the northern half of the country. In the south, the second maize crop is developing satisfactorily. In the north, coarse grains are being harvested.
Following an average cereal harvest in 2001, estimated at about 0.7 million tonnes, the overall food situation is satisfactory.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 74 | 612 | 686 |
| Previous five years average imports | 56 | 157 | 15 | 228 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | - | 41 | 651 | 693 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 61 | 651 | 712 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 41 | 651 | 693 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Utilization | 60 | 151 | 651 | 863 |
| Food use | 56 | 69 | 413 | 538 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 2 | 12 | 213 | 228 |
| Exports or re-exports | 2 | 70 | 15 | 87 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 60 | 110 | - | 1701/ |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 60 | 105 | - | 165 |
| Food aid needs | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 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) | 12 | 14 | 85 | 110 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 104 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 75 |