| Area: | 465 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | months in south to 4 months in extreme north |
| Population: | 13.72 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 650 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Chad |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
| Marketing year: | Jan./Dec.; Lean season: June-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 39 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Prospects for the 1997 cereal output are generally good. However, African migratory Locust infestations have developed in late 1997 in the north, from swarms coming from southern Chad. They have damaged the millet and sorghum crops, which were being harvested and were also threatening recession crops. Recent surveys indicate that only a few isolated locusts are still present and there is no risk of damage on the recession crops. Residual African Migratory Locust populations migrated to the south of the region where they are likely to breed at the beginning of the next rainy season in June-July 1998. The food supply situation is going to be somewhat tight in the traditionally deficit areas of the north. Most refugees who fled fighting in the Republic of Congo have now returned. The cereal import requirement for 1997/98 (July/June) is estimated at 250 000 tonnes of wheat and rice and 10 000 tonnes of coarse grains.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
1 |
82 |
1 053 |
1 136 |
|
Normal Imports |
200 |
40 |
15 |
255 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
- |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
1998 Domestic Availability |
0 |
54 |
1 140 |
1 195 |
|
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
0 |
80 |
1 080 |
1 160 |
|
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) |
0 |
54 |
1 080 |
1 135 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
- |
- |
60 |
60 |
|
1998 Utilization |
210 |
94 |
1 150 |
1 455 |
|
Food Use |
196 |
84 |
925 |
1 206 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Non-food use |
4 |
10 |
215 |
229 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
10 |
- |
10 |
20 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1998 Import Requirement |
210 |
40 |
10 |
260 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
210 |
38 |
5 |
253 |
|
Food aid needs |
- |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
14 |
6 |
67 |
88 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1997 production as % of normal: |
102 |
|||
|
1998 import requirement as % of normal: |
102 |
|||
|
1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
175 |
