Following the start of the rainy season in early March in the south and in late March in the north, rainfall was widespread and above average in April and May. The main maize crop is developing satisfactorily in the south, while the planting of millet and sorghum is drawing to its end in the north. Following favourable conditions in 1996, a good cereal harvest has been gathered, notably in Borgou and Atacora. The ONASA (Office National d’Appui à la Sécurité Alimentaire) estimate of foodcrop production puts 1996 cereal output at about 666 000 tons. The production of roots and tubers, which represents a significant part of food consumption, is estimated at about 2.9 million tons. Pulses production is about 147 000 tons.
The national 1996 foodcrops production was satisfactory and above average, but very unequal between the various regions. Production was above average in northern departments and weak in the southern departments, due notably to an increase in areas planted in cotton. Prices are expected to increase in the south as a result of low production, stockpiling by farmers and traders, and high transport costs. The government is setting up a security stock of about 1 000 tons of maize and helping the creation of on-farm stocks. Domestic prices and food availability are also influenced by unofficial cross border trade with neighbouring countries. Maize and beans are imported from Nigeria while beans are exported to Togo and Burkina-Faso. Yams and gari are exported to Niger. There are about 11 000 Togolese refugees remaining in Benin. The cereal import requirement for 1997 (January/December) is estimated at 195 000 tons (including re-exports), mostly wheat and rice, of which 21 000 tons of food aid.