| Area: | 465 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | North: tropical wet-dry, south: tropical wet; length of rainy season declines from 11 months in south to 4 months in extreme north |
| Population: | 12.87 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 770 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Chad |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | July/June; Lean season: June-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 39 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Rainfall was plentiful and well distributed in August over the entire country, except the south-west where precipitation was less abundant. Rains decreased in the first middle of September and increased again in late September and early October over the entire country. The planting of the second maize crop is finished and maize is tillering/elongating. In the north, millet and sorghum are reaching maturity.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied following harvest of the first season crop. For the 1995/96 marketing year (July/June), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 347 000 tons, mainly wheat and rice.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 1 | 61 | 850 | 912 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 215 | 130 | 15 | 360 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 1995/96 Domestic availability | 1 | 55 | 893 | 949 |
| 1995 Production | 1 | 55 | 893 | 949 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 211 | 165 | 920 | 1 296 |
| Food use | 187 | 135 | 730 | 1 052 |
| Non-food use | 4 | 5 | 180 | 189 |
| Re-exports | 10 | 20 | 10 | 40 |
| Possible stock build-up | 10 | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| 1995/96 Import Requirement | 210 | 110 | 27 | 347 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 210 | 105 | 27 | 342 |
| Food aid needs | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| Donor-financed purchases for export | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 14 | 10 | 61 | 85 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 104 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 96 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal | 100 | |||