| Area: | 824 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Mostly arid (south-west and coast) or semi-arid. Only north and north-east gets regular rainfall in November-April |
| Population: | 1.75 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 2 220 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Arid to semi-arid country; cereal production mainly in the north |
| Logistics: | Good road and railway network |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, maize, sorghum, wheat |
| Marketing year: | May/April; |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 48 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Normal rainfall received in early October in the east and south-east of the country benefited pastures and encouraged land preparation for the 1998/99 coarse grain crop. The output from irrigated winter wheat, currently being harvested, is estimated at 6 000 tonnes, higher than last year and above average.
Following the sharply reduced 1998 cereal production, estimated at 59 000 tonnes, which is one-third of last year's above-average output, the food supply situation in the current marketing year is tight. Commercial imports of cereals in 1998/99 (May/April) are estimated to increase to some 155 000 tonnes (120 000 tonnes of maize and 35 000 tonnes of wheat).
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 4 | - | 88 | 92 |
| Normal Imports | 30 | - | 31 | 61 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 1 | - | 2 | 3 |
| 1998/99 Domestic Availability | 16 | - | 69 | 85 |
| 1998 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 6 | - | 53 | 59 |
| 1998 Production (rice in milled terms) | 6 | - | 53 | 59 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | 16 | 26 |
| 1998/99 Utilization | 51 | - | 189 | 240 |
| Food Use | 51 | - | 180 | 231 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998/99 Import Requirement | 35 | - | 120 | 155 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 35 | - | 120 | 155 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 29 | - | 103 | 132 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1998 production as % of normal: | 64 | |||
| 1998/99 import requirement as % of normal: | 254 | |||
| 1998/99 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
