| Area: | 318 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons (March-July and September-December) in south and one in north |
| Population: | 14.90 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 660 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Mali |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, fruit, rice, maize |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April to July |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 40 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
The rainy season started in early April, which is later than last year. Substantial rains occurred in April over the whole country, allowing the planting of the main maize, rainfed rice, millet and sorghum crops. Above normal rains persisted in early May, and decreased in late May and June, remaining close to normal.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are adequately supplied. The government has announced a 10 percent reduction in import tax on wheat flour, bringing it down to 20 percent, which cut ends a de facto monopoly on flour by the local company, Grands moulins d'Abidjan. Organised repatriation is underway for the Liberian refugees and will be completed by the end of the year. About 210 000 Liberian refugees are remaining in the western departments. Food assistance is provided to 50 000 vulnerable people, and 30 000 children through school feeding. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is estimated at 620 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 950 | 700 | 1 650 |
| Normal Imports | 220 | 280 | 20 | 520 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | 480 | 753 | 1 233 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 800 | 752 | 1 552 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 480 | 752 | 1 232 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 Utilization | 255 | 840 | 758 | 1 853 |
| Food Use | 250 | 720 | 559 | 1 529 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 5 | 120 | 189 | 314 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 255 | 360 | 5 | 620 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 255 | 320 | 5 | 580 |
| Food aid needs | - | 40 | - | 40 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 49 | 3 | 52 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 18 | - | 18 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 17 | 48 | 38 | 103 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 94 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 119 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
