Area:
|
1 259 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
From north to south: arid, semi-arid and tropical wet-dry; rainy season: May-Oct.
|
Population:
|
7.4 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 230 (1998)
|
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
|
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season crops are growing satisfactorily and prospects are good for berbéré (recessional sorghum) in Chari Baguirmi, Mayo Kebbi and Salamat Prefectures as well as for off-season maize and wheat crops in the Lake Chad polders. Following release of final production estimates by the national statistical services, the aggregate 1999 cereal production is put at 1 230 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent), which is 9 percent below the 1998 record but 16 percent above the five-year average. Desert Locust populations, frequently mixed with Migratory Locusts, have been reported in the Fada area in November/December. Locusts may concentrate in the few remaining green patches of vegetation.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of cereals remain stable. Farmers have reconstituted stocks for the second consecutive year or sold cereals to compensate for low cotton prices and poor groundnut production. Some areas were flooded in Moyen Chari and Logone Oriental prefectures. Food supply difficulties are also possible in northern Lac province and in some areas of Batha, Biltine, Kanem, Ouaddaï and Tandjilé. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 67 000 tonnes, including 12 000 tonnes of food aid.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 3 | 100 | 956 | 1 059 |
| Normal Imports | 55 | 10 | 8 | 73 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 6 | 1 | 8 | 15 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 4 | 95 | 1 088 | 1 186 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 4 | 138 | 1 088 | 1 230 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 4 | 95 | 1 088 | 1 186 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 64 | 100 | 1 090 | 1 253 |
| Food Use | 63 | 73 | 835 | 970 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 17 | 170 | 188 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| Possible stock build up | - | 10 | 70 | 80 |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 60 | 5 | 2 | 67 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 50 | 5 | - | 55 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | - | 2 | 12 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 9 | 10 | 113 | 131 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 116 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 92 | |||
| 1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 80 |
