|
Area: |
111 000 sq.km |
|
Climate: |
Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (Mar.-Jul. and Oct.) and one in north |
|
Population: |
5.57 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput U.S.$ 370 (1995) |
|
Specific characteristics of the country: |
Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
|
Logistics: |
Ports, roads, rail adequate; gateway to Niger |
|
Major foodcrops: |
Roots and tubers, maize |
|
Marketing year: |
January/December; Lean season: April-June |
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: |
37 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Rains started in the south but remained limited in early March and became abundant over the entire country during the last dekad of March. Planting of maize, niebe and groundnuts is underway in the south and land preparation for the planting of upland rice has started. Following favourable conditions in 1996, a good cereal harvest has been gathered, notably in Borgou and Atacora. The ONASA (Office National d’Appui à la Sécurité Alimentaire) production estimates put 1996 cereal output at about 668 000 tons, which is higher than average.
The food supply situation remains satisfactory. Prices of millet and sorghum decreased significantly in late 1996 but seasonably started to increase in early 1997. Domestic prices and food availability are also influenced by unofficial cross border trade with neighbouring countries. Maize and beans are imported from Nigeria while sorghum and gari are exported to Togo and yams and local rice to Burkina Faso. Sorghum, yams and gari are also exported to Niger. There are about 11 000 Togolese refugees remaining in Benin. The cereal import requirement for 1996/97 (January/December), is estimated at 195 000 tons mostly wheat and rice, of which 21 000 tons of food aid.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
12 |
605 |
617 |
|
Normal Imports |
50 |
150 |
8 |
208 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
4 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
|
1997 Domestic Availability |
- |
16 |
650 |
666 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
18 |
650 |
668 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
11 |
650 |
661 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
5 |
- |
5 |
|
1997 Utilization |
45 |
156 |
655 |
856 |
|
Food Use |
45 |
83 |
492 |
620 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
- |
3 |
133 |
136 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
70 |
25 |
95 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
5 |
5 |
|
1997 Import Requirement |
45 |
140 |
5 |
190 1/ |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
40 |
134 |
- |
174 |
|
Food aid needs |
5 |
6 |
5 |
16 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
3 |
6 |
2 |
11 |
|
of which: Delivered |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
8 |
15 |
88 |
111 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
108 |
|||
|
1997 import requirement as % of normal: |
91 |
|||
|
1997 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
100 |