| Area: | 54 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in north |
| Population: | 4.01 million (1995 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 330 (1993) |
| 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 irregular rains in the first part of the season, estimates for the first growing season are close to normal. In some areas, maize crop had to be replanted twice. Aggregate food production will depend on the outcome of the second growing season. Following the floods caused by torrential rains in the centre of the country in mid-September, precipitation was widespread in late September and early October and resumed in mid-October in centre/north, in late October in the south and early November in the west. Rains were very scarce in the south in late September and early October and stopped in the north in mid-October. In the north, coarse grains are maturing or being harvested while the second maize crop is heading.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. For 1995, cereal imports for domestic use and re-export are estimated at 140 000 tons, including a structural food aid need of 20 000 tons.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 20 | 500 | 520 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 73 | 80 | 4 | 157 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 10 | - | 2 | 12 |
| 1995 Domestic availability | 5 | 26 | 436 | 467 |
| 1994 Production | - | 26 | 381 | 407 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 5 | - | 55 | 60 |
| 1995 Utilization | 55 | 76 | 476 | 607 |
| Food use | 51 | 63 | 390 | 504 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 2 | 3 | 81 | 86 |
| Exports/re-exports | 2 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
| 1995 Import Requirement | 50 | 50 | 40 | 140 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 50 | 25 | 120 1/ |
| Food aid needs | 5 | - | 15 | 20 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 1 | - | 4 | 5 |
| of which: Delivered | 1 | - | 4 | 5 |
| Donor-financed local purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 13 | 16 | 97 | 126 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1994 production as % of normal: | 78 | |||
| 1995 import requirement as % of normal: | 89 | |||
| 1995 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 167 | |||
1/ Including 12 000 tons for re-export (2 000 tons of rice and 10 000 tons of wheat).