Africa report 05/96 af605p.htm

COTE D'IVOIRE

Area:	318 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons (March-July and September-December) in south and one in north
Population:	13.9 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 510 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
Logistics:	Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Mali
Major foodcrops:	Roots and tubers, fruit, rice, maize
Marketing year:	July/June; Lean season: April to July
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	40 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

Seasonal dry conditions have prevailed since the beginning of the year, with periodic rains in mid February in the centre. There was substantial rainfall in the first dekad of March, benefiting planting of the first maize crop. Following favourable growing conditions throughout the season, the 1995 aggregate cereal production is estimated at 1.4 million tons (including rice in paddy). The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Inflation in 1995 declined to 7.7 percent from 32.2 percent in 1994 following the devaluation of the CFA Franc. In order to encourage local milling, on 1 January, the Government announced a rise of import taxes of 10 percent for wheat and 30 percent for wheat flour and the liberalization of prices of flour on the local market. WFP and UNHCR are currently implementing a planned strategy for phasing out self sufficient Liberian refugees from free food distribution. As a result, only 250 000 refugees were retained in January/February for food distribution. Some small scale spontaneous repatriation has occurred since the earlier peace agreement in Liberia though recent fighting in Monrovia in early April may cause further population movement within Côte d'Ivoire.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	-	459	600	1 059
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	225	250	18	493
of which: Structural food aid	-	50	-	50
1995/96 Domestic availability	-	455	625	1 080
1995 Production	-	450	615	1 065
Possible stock drawdown	-	5	10	15
1995/96 Utilization	250	755	662	1 667
Food use	245	715	502	1 462
Non-food use	5	40	155	200
Exports	-	-	5	5
1995/96 Import Requirement	250	300	37	587
Anticipated commercial imports	250	250	37	537
Food aid needs	-	50	-	50
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	-	65	-	65
of which: Delivered	-	32	-	32
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	17	50	35	102
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				101
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal:				119
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				100

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996