Area:
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230 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north
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Population:
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20.2 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 390 (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 and roads inadequate
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Major foodcrops:
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Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice
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Marketing year:
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January/December; Lean season: April-June
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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27 percent
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First rains started in the south and the centre during the second dekad of March, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. They progressed to the north in April, decreased significantly during the second dekad of May but were widespread and above average during the third dekad, allowing plantings and emergence of millet and sorghum crops in the north. Precipitation decreased in early June but then remained generally widespread and above normal, benefiting a satisfactory crop development.
The aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at 1 686 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy) which is slightly below the output in 1998 and the average. The food supply situation is tight for populations affected by floods in 1999 in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. WFP provided emergency assistance to some vulnerable people. About 10 000 Liberian refugees remain in the country. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-export during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 485 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 46 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 204 | 1 528 | 1 732 |
| Previous five years average imports | 200 | 219 | 24 | 443 |
| 2000 Domestic Availability | - | 150 | 1 546 | 1 696 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 210 | 1 476 | 1 686 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 140 | 1 476 | 1 616 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 10 | 70 | 80 |
| 2000 Utilization | 220 | 370 | 1 591 | 2 181 |
| Food Use | 218 | 340 | 1 261 | 1 818 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 2 | 25 | 325 | 353 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 Import Requirement | 220 | 220 | 45 | 485 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 190 | 210 | 39 | 439 |
| Food aid needs | 30 | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 36 | 5 | 21 | 61 |
| of which: Delivered | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 11 | 17 | 62 | 90 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 97 | |||
| 2000 import requirement as % of average: | 109 |
