| Area: | 1 259 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: May-Oct. |
| Population: | 7.066 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 180 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked sahelian country. |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet and sorghum, roots and tubers, tree nuts |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: August-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Crops are developing satisfactorily, reflecting above-normal rains from mid-July. Following first significant rains in mid or late April, precipitation progressed northwards and remained generally above normal in May and early June. Rains decreased in mid-June and became well below normal during the last dekad of June. They resumed in early July in the Sudanian zone and became abundant in mod and late July in both the Sudanian and Sahelian zones. Crops are developing satisfactorily in the Sudanian zone.
Pastures have started to regenerate in the south. Surveys have been undertaken in areas of possible African Migratory Locusts infestations. The situation is reported to remain calm. By contrast, grasshoppers and army worms have attacked plantings in the Sahelian zone and necessitated replanting. Low numbers of solitary Desert Locust adults may be present in a few places of Biltine and southern BET where they are expected to lay eggs with the onset of the rains.
Following an above-average harvest in 1997, the overall food supply situation is better than in 1996/97. However, the national early warning system (SAP) recommended provision of 5 155 tonnes of food aid to assist about 237 000 people for up to four months in areas classified as at risk of food supply difficulties in the Sahelian zone. In addition, about 5 000 tonnes are needed to cover needs in the Sudanian and Saharan zones. About 10 000 tonnes of cereals are to be purchased with some donor assistance to replenish the national security stock, which has a recommended level of 22 000 tonnes and which was exhausted at the end of the last growing season.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 3 | 82 | 828 | 913 |
| Normal Imports | 45 | 10 | 10 | 65 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| 1997/98 Domestic Availability | 4 | 99 | 877 | 979 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 4 | 144 | 847 | 994 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | 4 | 99 | 847 | 949 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 30 | 30 |
| 1997/98 Utilization | 67 | 109 | 877 | 1 052 |
| Food Use | 66 | 72 | 724 | 861 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 17 | 143 | 161 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 20 | - | 20 |
| 1997/98 Import Requirement | 63 | 10 | - | 73 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 53 | 10 | - | 63 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | - | - | 10 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 43 | - | 2 | 45 |
| of which: Delivered | 19 | - | 2 | 21 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 9 | 10 | 102 | 122 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 109 | |||
| 1997/98 import requirement as % of normal: | 112 | |||
| 1997/98 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 83 |
