FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report 02/97

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SENEGAL

Area:

192 000 sq.km

Climate:

Semi-arid in north, tropical wet-dry in south, with rains in June-October

Population:

8.77 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 730 (1993)

Specific characteristics of the country:

Low-income food-deficit country; coastal sahelian country

Logistics:

Port capacity adequate; gateway to Mali.

Major foodcrops:

Millet and sorghum, rice, maize, wheat

Marketing year:

November/October; Lean season: August-September

Share of cereals in total calorie intake:

61 percent



CURRENT SITUATION

Seasonably dry conditions prevail. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited Senegal in mid-October estimated 1996 aggregate cereal production at 1 066 900 tons of cereals. This is close to the 1995 level and above average. Production of rice and sorghum increased, while that of maize decreased. Compared with last season's results, cropped areas estimated at a total of 1 300 000 hectares have increased by 7 percent. An estimated 28 000 tons of recession crops should be added to this forecast, which gives a total of about 1 095 000 tons. Rice and fonio production has increased by 10 and 12 percent respectively. Maize production is expected to fall by 8 percent.

The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are generally well supplied except for maize. Prices of cereals have declined following the harvest but they remained slightly above 1995 level for millet and sorghum in the north. The country imports large quantities of rice to cover its consumption requirement. External assistance may be required for the mobilization of cereals in the south and their transfer to northern deficit areas. For the 1996/97 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 635 000 tons, mostly rice and the food aid requirement at 20 000 tons.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1996/97 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

Wheat

Rice

Coarse grains

Total

Normal Production (rice in paddy terms)

-

180

807

987

Normal Imports

175

415

85

675

of which: Structural food aid

10

3

7

20

1996/97 Domestic Availability

-

211

896

1 107

1996 Production (rice in paddy terms)

-

171

896

1 067

1996 Production (rice in milled terms)

-

111

896

1 007

Possible stock drawdown

-

100

-

100

1996/97 Utilization

200

561

981

1 742

Food Use

197

521

835

1 553

of which: local purchase requirement

-

-

10

10

Non-food use

3

40

146

189

(Re-)Exports

-

-

-

-

Possible stock build up

-

-

-

-

1996/97 Import Requirement

200

350

85

635

Anticipated commercial imports

195

340

80

615

Food aid needs

5

10

5

20

Current Aid Position





Food aid pledges

-

-

-

-

of which: Delivered

-

-

-

-

Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year)

23

59

95

177

Indexes





1996 production as % of normal:




108

1996/97 import requirement as % of normal:




94

1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal:




100


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