FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - September 2005 p.48
The 2004 cereal production is estimated at some 1.05 million tonnes. The important millet crop decreased by nearly 50 percent to some 324 000 tonnes, while sorghum production is 33 percent down from the previous year. Although commercial imports and pledged food aid will largely cover the rice and wheat requirements, the shortfall in millet was more difficult to offset given the low availability and trade of this cereal in the sub-region. This probably resulted in millet being replaced by maize and rice.
| CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2004/05 MARKETING YEAR (November/October) | ||||
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse Grains | Total Cereals | |
| [ | thousand tonnes | ] | ||
| Previous year production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 232 | 1 220 | 1 452 |
| Previous five years average production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 240 | 837 | 1 077 |
| Previous year imports | 252 | 635 | 45 | 932 |
| Previous five years average imports | 266 | 633 | 57 | 956 |
| 2004/05 Domestic Availability | - | 291 | 912 | 1 203 |
| 2004 Production (incl. paddy rice) | - | 202 | 852 | 1 054 |
| 2004 Production (incl. milled rice) | - | 141 | 852 | 993 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 150 | 60 | 210 |
| 2004/05 Utilization | 264 | 923 | 987 | 2 174 |
| Food use | 259 | 903 | 607 | 1 769 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 20 | 230 | 255 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 150 | 150 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2004/05 Import Requirement | 264 | 632 | 75 | 971 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 262 | 607 | 75 | 944 |
| of which: received or contracted | 147 | 556 | 71 | 774 |
| Food aid needs | 2 | 25 | - | 27 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 1 | 25 | - | 26 |
| of which: delivered | 1 | 24 | - | 25 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 25 | 85 | 57 | 167 |
| Indexes | [ | percentage | ] | |
| 2004 Production compared to average (incl. paddy rice) | - | 84 | 102 | 98 |
| 2004/05 Import requirement compared to average | 99 | 100 | 132 | 102 |
| Cereal share of total calorie intake | 61 | |||
| Additional Information | ||||
| Major foodcrops | millet; sorghum; rice; maize; wheat | |||
| Lean season | August-September | |||
| Population (000s) | 10 587 | |||
| GNI per capita in 2003 (US$) | 550 | |||