BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 886 000 sq.km
Climate: Tropical wet-dry climate with two rainy seasons in north (March-May and November- December) and one in south (November-April)
Population: 28.85 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 90 (1993)
Specific characteristics of the country: Low-income food-deficit country; cereal surplus production in the south and south-west; cereal deficit in the north-west. Distribution difficulties
Logistics: Serious shortage of rolling stock, fuel and spare parts
Major foodcrops: Maize, roots, tubers, sorghum, pulses, plantains, rice
Marketing year: June/May; Lean season: February-April
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 60 percent
CURRENT SITUATION
Harvesting of the 1996 main season cereal crops is complete. In the unimodal rain areas of the south, good yields of the main maize crop were obtained, as a result of generally adequate rains during the growing season. In the bi-modal rainfall areas of northern coastal belt and north-eastern areas, cereal crops were also in good condition, but yields declined from last year due to lower use of fertilizers following a sharp increase in prices.
Aggregate cereal production in 1996/97 (June/May) is preliminarily estimated at 4.5 million tons, slightly higher than the above average crop of 1995/96, mainly reflecting a bumper sorghum crop. Maize, the major staple, is forecast to reach 2.6 million tons, about 3 percent higher than the previous year.
Pasture and livestock are also reported to be in satisfactory condition.
As a result of the expectation of a good harvest, the country is anticipated to remain self-sufficient in marketing year 1996/97, except for a wheat deficit of some 50 000 tons, to be covered by commercial imports. However, the food situation remains tight in 51 chronically food deficit regions, where production shortfalls are anticipated from December. The Government has requested emergency food assistance for 469 544 worst affected population for a period of six months.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 85 | 405 | 3 230 | 3 720 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 60 | 25 | - | 85 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 15 | 15 | - | 30 |
| 1996/97 Domestic availability | 66 | 403 | 4 029 | 4 498 |
| 1996 Production | 66 | 373 | 4 029 | 4 468 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 30 | - | 30 |
| 1996/97 Utilization | 116 | 403 | 4 029 | 4 548 |
| Food use | 112 | 383 | 2 960 | 3 455 |
| Non-food use | 4 | 20 | 729 | 753 |
| Possible stock build-up | - | - | 240 | 240 |
| Exports | - | - | 100 | 100 |
| 1996/97 Import Requirement | 50 | - | - | 50 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | - | - | 50 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 4 | 13 | 100 | 117 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1996 production as % of normal: | 120 | |||
| 1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: | 59 | |||
| 1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | - | |||