| Area: | 274 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry in south, semi-arid in north; one rainy season: May-October |
| Population: | 11.09 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 230 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; sahelian land-locked country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season; adequate rail link to Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, sorghum, pulses, maize |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 73 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Higher than normal temperatures have been reported in early February. The government recently published the final 1997/98 cereal production figures. Aggregate cereal production is now estimated at about 2 million tonnes, which is about 19 percent down from 1996 and 18 percent below the five-year average. This is the lowest level since 1990. The list of deficit areas has also been revised.
Reflecting this below-average harvest, the overall food supply situation will be tight in the areas which gathered reduced crops. The Government has launched an appeal for food aid to cover the needs of 910 000 people for seven months in the deficit areas. It has also launched an emergency programme, including off-season production, nutrition, cereal banks reconstitution projects, as well as emergency food assistance, in order to assist populations affected by poor harvests in 1997. The Government will provide 9 000 tonnes of cereals to cereal banks and support livestock activities in the affected areas. Tuareg refugees from Mali are also receiving food assistance.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
75 |
2 400 |
2 475 |
|
Normal Imports |
45 |
75 |
30 |
150 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
5 |
4 |
20 |
29 |
|
1997/98 Domestic Availability |
- |
79 |
2 034 |
2 113 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
90 |
1 924 |
2 014 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
59 |
1 924 |
1 983 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
20 |
110 |
130 |
|
1997/98 Utilization |
66 |
145 |
2 144 |
2 355 |
|
Food Use |
64 |
134 |
1 833 |
2 031 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
10 |
10 |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
11 |
296 |
308 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
|
Possible stock build up |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
|
1997/98 Import Requirement |
66 |
66 |
110 |
242 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
47 |
60 |
55 |
162 |
|
Food aid needs |
19 |
6 |
55 |
80 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
10 |
4 |
1 |
15 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
6 |
12 |
167 |
185 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
81 |
|||
|
1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: |
161 |
|||
|
1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
276 |
