BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 54 000 sq.km
Climate: Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in north
Population: 4.14 million (1995 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 320 (1994)
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
CURRENT SITUATION
Following weak but widespread rains during the first two dekads of July, rainfall stopped during the last dekad and the main maize crop is being harvested. Rainfall resumed in the north in early August and reached the centre of the country during the second and third dekads, allowing the planting of the second maize crop. In the north, millet and sorghum are flowering/heading while rice is growing satisfactorily in the south.
Markets are well supplied. The price of maize increased in May and began falling in June as the main maize crop came in to the market. The cereal import requirement for 1996 (including re-export) is estimated at 150 000 tons.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 20 | 467 | 487 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 65 | 60 | 10 | 135 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1996 Domestic availability | - | 20 | 446 | 466 |
| 1995 Production | - | 20 | 446 | 466 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 Utilization | 60 | 70 | 486 | 616 |
| Food use | 56 | 55 | 410 | 521 |
| Non-food use | 2 | 3 | 71 | 76 |
| Exports/re-exports | 2 | 12 | 5 | 19 |
| 1996 Import Requirement | 60 | 50 | 40 | 150 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 55 1/ | 50 2/ | 38 | 143 3/ |
| Food aid needs | 5 | - | 2 | 7 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 13 | 14 | 99 | 126 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 96 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 111 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 140 | |||