BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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.$ 280 (1994)
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
Rains were abundant and widespread during the first two dekads of July. During the last dekad of July, they became heavy in the north and light in the south and were concentrated over the eastern half of the country during the first dekad of August. Heavy rains occurred during the second and third dekads of August over the entire country. In the north, millet and sorghum are flowering/heading, while the first maize crop is being harvested. The second maize crop is being planted in the south.
The Government has started a food storage programme, including the construction of 26 silos providing a 636 000 tons storage capacity and the installation of 500 improved storage structures for farmers, in order to reduce large post-harvest losses. An epidemic of cholera has caused more than 800 deaths in the north since early June.
The cereal import requirement for 1996/97 is estimated at about 1 million tons, including 700 000 tons of wheat and 250 000 tons of rice.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 48 | 2 050 | 17 000 | 19 098 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 800 | 300 | 80 | 1 180 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 1996/97 Domestic availability | 236 | 1 950 | 20 373 | 22 559 |
| 1996 Production | 36 | 1 950 | 20 373 | 22 359 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 200 | - | - | 200 |
| 1996/97 Utilization | 936 | 2 200 | 20 433 | 23 569 |
| Food use | 905 | 1 350 | 13 762 | 16 017 |
| Non-food use | 31 | 750 | 6 201 | 6 982 |
| Exports | - | 100 | 170 | 270 |
| Possible stock build-up | - | - | 300 | 300 |
| 1996/97 Import Requirement | 700 | 250 | 60 | 1 010 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 700 | 250 | 60 | 1 010 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 12 | 120 | 140 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1996 production as % of normal: | 117 | |||
| 1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: | 86 | |||
| 1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - | |||