| Area: | 911 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Mostly tropical wet-dry, south-west tropical wet, extreme north semi-arid |
| Population: | 116 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 260 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports adequate, roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-May |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 43 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Despite a late start of the rains, conditions were generally favourable for a good crop development throughout the growing season. The millet and sorghum crops in the northern part of the country are expected to be normal to above normal. In the centre and the southwest, dry periods in July and August might have affected crop development and reduced the maize and rice output. Shortages of fertilizers, improved seeds and pesticides are also expected to have further limited maize and rice production.
Food supply continues to be constrained by high levels of post-harvest losses and high distribution costs but is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 1 300 000 tonnes, including 1 million tonnes of wheat and 200 000 tonnes of rice.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 45 | 2 800 | 16 970 | 19 815 |
| Normal Imports | 850 | 350 | 80 | 1 280 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | 96 | 1 967 | 18 489 | 20 552 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 66 | 3 278 | 18 489 | 21 833 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | 66 | 1 967 | 18 489 | 20 522 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 30 | - | - | 30 |
| 1998 Utilization | 1096 | 2 167 | 18 589 | 21 852 |
| Food Use | 1065 | 1 917 | 14 406 | 17 388 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 31 | 250 | 3 843 | 4 124 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 140 | 140 |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 1000 | 200 | 100 | 1 300 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 1000 | 200 | 100 | 1 300 |
| 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) | 9 | 17 | 124 | 150 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 110 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 102 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
