Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

CHAD

Area: 1 259 000 sq.km
Climate: From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: May-Oct.
Population: 6.74 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 190 (1994)
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, roots and tubers, tree nuts
Marketing year: November/October; Lean season: August-September
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 52 percent


CURRENT SITUATION

The berberé recession crop is anticipated to be below normal in the sub-prefectures of Abéché rural, Am-Dam (in Ouaddaï) and Oum-Hadjer (in Batha). Rainfall has begun in the south and land preparation has started. The final 1995 production estimates are slightly below estimates of the October crop assessment mission, indicating a total cereal production of 908 000 tons (including paddy). This is due to a reduction in millet and maize production, partly compensated by an increase of sorghum and rice production. This production is 23 percent lower than the 1994 record harvest but remains above average.Following two successive good harvests, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are generally well supplied. Cereal prices increased somewhat, particularly for millet and maize in Kanem. There is risk of food shortages in the traditional food deficit areas of the north. During a survey undertaken in February, the national early warning system estimated that a total of 333 000 persons were vulnerable to food shortages in several villages of the prefectures of Kanem, Biltine, Batha, Ouaddaï, Lac and Chari-Baguirmi, in order of importance. It estimated that about 9 600 tons of food aid is needed for a period of 4 months beginning April/May 1996. Cereals can be drawn from the national food security reserve. An FAO Mission in late 1995 recommended that the bulk of national food security stock be located at N’Djamena and that the quantities of food aid determined by the national early warning system be distributed to the regions before the rainy season. The fall in domestic crop production in 1995 has lead to a slight increase in cereal import requirement for 1995/96, which is estimated at 65 000 tons of wheat and rice. The imported structural food aid requirement is estimated at 2 000 tons.


CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

Wheat Rice Coarse grains Total
Normal production 3 56 743 802
Normal imports (incl. re-exports) 40 10 10 60
of which: Structural food aid - 2 10 12
1995 Production 3 53 826 882
1995/96 Utilization 48 73 826 947
Food use 47 69 687 803
of which: Local purchase requirement - - 10 10
Non-food use 1 4 132 137
1995/96 Import Requirement 45 20 - 65
Anticipated commercial imports 45 18 - 63
Food aid needs - 2 - 2
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges - 13 - 13
of which: Delivered - 7 - 7
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) 7 10 102 119
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal: 110
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal: 108
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal 17
FAO/GIEWS - April 1996

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