Area:
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911 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
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Mostly tropical wet-dry, south-west tropical wet, extreme north semi-arid
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Population:
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111 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 300 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Ports adequate, roads inadequate during rainy season
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, coarse grains, rice
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Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: April-May
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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43 percent
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Substantial rains started in the south during the second dekad of March, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. The 1999 cereal production is estimated at 23.2 million tonnes.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, due to heavy rains, three hydroelectric dams released water in the Kaduna, Benue and Niger rivers in early October, causing flooding of villages located along the river banks. The Nigerian Government estimates that about 300 000 people have been affected by the flooding, and that several thousand hectares have been flooded in 5 States (Sokoto, Adamwara, Borno, Kwara and Niger). About 6 000 hectares of sugar cane plantation, expected to produce about 25 000 tonnes of sugar, have been flooded in central region. The south-eastern Bayelsa State and five districts in the Niger Delta (in the municipalities of Patani, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Burutu and Bomadi) have also been affected by floods. Rising waters in Lake Chad have also left an estimated 25 000 people homeless in northern Nigeria. The government approved in late 1999 the purchase of 55 000 tonnes of local grains as part of the country's strategic food reserve.
The government decided on 11 February to remove import duties and value-added tax on all agricultural inputs, including fertilizer. The government would no longer be involved in the importation and distribution of fertilizer.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 58 | 2 937 | 18 470 | 21 465 |
| Normal Imports | 1150 | 350 | 100 | 1 600 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | 158 | 2 038 | 19 712 | 21 908 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 58 | 3 397 | 19 712 | 23 167 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 58 | 2 038 | 19 712 | 21 808 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 100 | - | - | 100 |
| 2000 Utilization | 1 358 | 2 238 | 19 912 | 23 508 |
| Food Use | 1 286 | 1 848 | 15 783 | 18 917 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 52 | 390 | 3869 | 4 311 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 20 | - | 210 | 230 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 1 200 | 200 | 200 | 1 600 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 1 200 | 200 | 200 | 1 600 |
| 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) | 12 | 17 | 142 | 170 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 108 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 100 | |||
| 2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | - |
