FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.1, April 2000 TOGO 45

TOGO

Area:	54 000 sq.km
Climate:	Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south (March-June and October) and one in North (May-October)
Population:	4.63 million (2000 estimate) G.N.P. per caput: US$ 330 (1998)
Specific characteristics of the country:	Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
Logistics:	Ports and roads adequate; gateway to Burkina Faso and Niger
Major foodcrops:	Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit
Marketing year:	January/December; Lean season: April-July
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:	40 percent

CURRENT SITUATION

First seasonal rains were received in the south and the centre during the second dekad of March, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. Reflecting widespread and above-normal rains during the 1999 growing season, the aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at a record 748 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent) which is 27 percent above 1998 level. Maize production increased sharply, notably in Savanes, Plateaux and Kara regions. Production of tubers and beans also increased.

Following this record crop, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, floods affected the regions of Kara (in the north), Plateaux (in the west), Maritime (in the south) and Savanes (in the extreme north). However, the worst affected regions is Savanes where at least 1 000 hectares of arable land have been inundated, isolating villages and affecting an estimated 42 000 people.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2000 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal Production	-	53	511	564
Normal Imports	45	100	25	170
of which: Structural food aid	-	2	1	3
2000 Domestic Availability	-	58	663	721
1999 Production (rice in paddy terms)	-	85	663	748
1999 Production (rice in milled terms)	-	58	663	721
Possible stock drawdown	-	-	-	-
2000 Utilization	50	138	663	851
Food Use	46	65	407	518
of which: local purchase requirement	-	-	-	-
Non-food use	2	13	221	236
Exports or Re-exports	2	60	10	72
Possible stock build up	-	-	25	25
2000 Import Requirement	50	80	-	1301/
Anticipated commercial imports	50	78	-	128
Food aid needs	-	2	-	2
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)	10	14	88	112
Indexes
1999 production as % of normal:				133
2000 import requirement as % of normal:				76
2000 food aid requirement as % of normal:				67

1/ Including 60 000 tonnes for re-export.