Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

BENIN

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.$ 370 (1994)
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

Some localized rains occurred in January, during the dry season in the south of the country. More regular rains started in mid February in the south, remained sparse during the last week and resumed in early March. Land preparation and planting of the first maize crop are underway. Dry conditions prevail in the north. Total cereal production in 1995 is estimated at 654 000 tons, including 500 000 tons of maize, 27 000 tons of millet, 116 000 tons of sorghum, 10 000 tons of paddy and 4 000 tons of fonio. Although production remained above average, it was some 12 000 tons below 1994.The food supply situation remains satisfactory, though prices in rural areas were above average at the beginning of the year at the prospect of a mediocre second season crop and stockpiling by traders. Domestic prices and food availability were also influenced by unofficial cross border trade with neighbouring countries like Togo and Burkina Faso. Maize imports from Nigeria, on the other hand, have increased following the devaluation of the Naira. The cereal import requirement in 1996 is estimated at 255 000 tons mostly of wheat and rice. There are approximately 20 000 assisted Togolese refugees in the country, whose nutritional status is reported to be satisfactory. It is expected that repatriation will be completed by June. In contrast, since the beginning of the year, Ogonis refugees have been arriving from Nigeria. They were numbered at about 800 by late March.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1996 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
1995 Domestic availability	2	12	654	668
1995 Production	-	7	647	654
Possible stock drawdown	2	5	7	14
1996 Utilization	52	212	659	923
Food use	46	58	493	597
Non-food use	1	4	131	136
Re-exports and exports	5	150	35	190
1996 Import Requirement	50	200	5	255 1/
Anticipated commercial imports	45	198	-	243
Food aid needs	5	2	5	12
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	1	2	6	9
of which: Delivered	-	2	-	2
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	9	10	93	112
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				112
1996 import requirement as % of normal:				99
1996 food aid requirement as % of normal				75

1/ Includes 155 000 tons of re-exports (150 000 tons of rice and 5 000 tons of wheat).

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996