| Area: | 911 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Mostly tropical wet-dry, south-west tropical wet, extreme north semi-arid |
| Population: | 123 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 310 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports adequate, roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, rice |
| Marketing year: | July/June; Lean season: April-May |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 43 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
After poor rains in early September, precipitation increased in the south and remained widespread in the north. In October and early November, rains stopped, first in the extreme north and gradually in the centre remaining abundant in the south. In the north, the second maize crop is developing satisfactorily. Upland rice has been harvested. Millet, sorghum and swamp rice are maturing or harvested. Areas planted are above average and a bumper harvest is expected in all ecological zones, despite the scarcity and high prices of fertilizers. No serious outbreak of pest or diseases have been reported.
Following a good harvest in 1994, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The government has launched an economic recovery program to support agricultural production. The commodities covered include cereals sugarcane, roots and tubers, vegetables, tree crops, fibre crops, beef, dairy, hogs, poultry and fish. The National Council on Agriculture also adopted proposals to promote production of irrigated wheat and rice during the 1995/96 season.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 48 | 2 050 | 11 500 | 13 598 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 700 | 300 | 75 | 1 075 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 1995/96 Domestic availability | 95 | 2 712 | 13 602 | 16 409 |
| 1995 Production | 35 | 2 712 | 13 602 | 16 349 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 895 | 2 962 | 13 672 | 17 529 |
| Food use | 894 | 2 112 | 10 800 | 13 806 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 750 | 2 372 | 3 123 |
| Exports | - | - | 100 | 100 |
| Possible stock build-up | - | 100 | 400 | 500 |
| 1995/96 Import Requirement | 800 | 250 | 70 | 1 120 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 800 | 250 | 70 | 1 120 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 19 | 98 | 125 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 120 | |||
| 1995/96 import requirement as % of normal: | 104 | |||
| 1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - | |||