| Area: | 111 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (Mar.-Jul. and Oct.) and one in north |
| Population: | 5.25 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput U.S.$ 420 (1993) |
| 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
Heavy rains in mid-September caused floods in the centre of the country. About 25 000 hectares were inundated, resulting in losses to crops and livestock, and numerous people homeless. According to the government, about 105 000 people need food and medical assistance. Precipitation decreased in general in the north and the centre in late September, October and November but remained widespread, except in the Kandi region where rains stopped in early October. In the south, the second season maize crop is heading. In the north, millet and sorghum have been harvested.
The national food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied, notably in the south, following the harvest of the first maize crop. Approximately 45 000 Togolese refugees are still in Benin according to a recent survey; their nutritional situation is not critical. For 1995, cereal imports are estimated at 250 000 tons, mainly rice, of which about three quarters are re-exported to neighbouring countries, notably Nigeria. The food aid requirements of 9 000 tons includes exceptional food aid for the Togolese refugees.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 7 | 577 | 584 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 50 | 200 | 8 | 258 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
| 1994 Domestic availability | - | 9 | 632 | 641 |
| 1994 Production | - | 9 | 631 | 640 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 Utilization | 50 | 209 | 632 | 891 |
| Food use | 44 | 55 | 474 | 573 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 4 | 128 | 133 |
| Re-exports and exports | 5 | 150 | 30 | 185 |
| 1995 Import Requirement | 50 | 200 | - | 250 1/ |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 45 | 196 | - | 241 |
| Food aid needs | 5 | 4 | - | 9 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 5 | 2 | 6 | 13 |
| of which: Delivered | 5 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| of which: for export | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| for local purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 10 | 90 | 108 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1994 production as % of normal: | 110 | |||
| 1995 import requirement as % of normal: | 97 | |||
| 1995 food aid requirement as % of normal | 56 | |||
1/ Includes 155 000 tons of re-exports (150 000 tons of rice and 5 000 tons of wheat).