BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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
Following light rains in early July, normal precipitation resumed in the north during the second and third dekads of July. Rains remained light in northern Benin in early August and became heavy during the second and third dekads. In the south, the harvest of the first maize crop is drawing to an end and land preparation for the planting of the second maize crop is underway. Rice is developing satisfactorily. Millet and sorghum are flowering/heading in the north.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. Maize from the first harvest is being marketed. Vegetables, millet, sorghum and maize are still imported from Nigeria. In April, UNHCR launched an appeal for the repatriation of about 21 000 Togolese refugees. The cereal import requirement for 1996 (including re-export) is estimated at 255 000 tons mostly wheat and rice. An epidemic of cholera affected 3 200 persons in the northern departments of Atakora and Borgou.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 7 | 590 | 597 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 50 | 200 | 8 | 258 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
| 1996 Domestic availability | 2 | 12 | 638 | 652 |
| 1995 Production | - | 6 | 628 | 634 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| 1996 Utilization | 52 | 212 | 643 | 907 |
| Food use | 46 | 57 | 477 | 580 |
| 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 | - | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Donor-financed purchases for export | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 9 | 10 | 88 | 107 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 106 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 99 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal | 75 | |||