Area:
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193 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Semi-arid in north, tropical wet-dry in south, with rains in June-October
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Population:
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9.23 million (1999 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 550 (1997)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal sahelian country
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Logistics:
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Port capacity adequate; gateway to Mali.
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Major foodcrops:
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Millet and sorghum, rice, maize, wheat
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Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: August-September
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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61 percent
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Generally above normal rains permitted widespread plantings in the south and the centre. Following substantial early rains in the south-east in mid-May, rains progressed northwards in June and were above last year's level and generally above normal. The weather remained dry up to late June in the north where rains started in early July, permitting plantings to start. Plantings of coarse grains are now well underway in the centre, while crops are emerging satisfactorily in the south and the east.
Pastures have started to regenerate in the centre. No pest activity has been reported. The government has distributed 73 273 tonnes of phosphate fertilizers at farmers level in the framework of its programme "phosphatage de fond".
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Food markets are well supplied and the price of rice remains generally stable. The prices of millet and sorghum are also stable and 20-25 percent lower than in 1998. However, some localized food supply difficulties are expected for vulnerable groups affected by successive poor harvests in Louga, Tivaouane and M'Backé and in the regions of Fatick, Thiès, and Ziguinchor. The cereal import requirement for the 1998/99 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at about 800 000 tonnes, mainly rice and wheat.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 180 | 816 | 996 |
| Normal Imports | 190 | 425 | 70 | 685 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | - | 126 | 827 | 953 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 181 | 827 | 1008 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 126 | 827 | 953 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 235 | 631 | 892 | 1 758 |
| Food Use | 230 | 610 | 746 | 1 586 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 22 | 131 | 157 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 235 | 505 | 65 | 805 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 230 | 500 | 60 | 790 |
| Food aid needs | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 7 | - | 7 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 7 | - | 7 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 25 | 66 | 81 | 172 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 101 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 118 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 125 |
