FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.45
| Area: | 784 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; coast is semi-arid |
| Population: | 18.19 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$210 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; exposed to tropical storms and cyclones |
| Logistics: | Dilapidated rail and road transport fleet; lack of fuel and spares; poor roads; substantial Deliveries by coastal vessels |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots, tubers, maize |
| Marketing year: | April/March; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 53 percent |
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission in April/May 2002 estimated the 2002 cereal output at 1.71 million tonnes, 5 percent above the good level of last year. Maize production increased by 8 percent to 1.24 million tonnes. This mainly reflects abundant and well-distributed rains during the season in the main growing areas of the Northern and Central regions, where the exportable maize surplus is projected at 100 000 tonnes. By contrast, prolonged severe dry weather led to almost crop failure in the provinces of the Southern and parts of Central regions. Approximately 515 000 people in these areas are estimated to be in need of emergency food aid during marketing year 2002/03 (April/May) following a succession of poor harvests.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 2 | 175 | 1 463 | 1 640 |
| Previous five years average imports | 201 | 123 | 66 | 390 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | - | 109 | 1 606 | 1 715 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 164 | 1 606 | 1 770 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 109 | 1 606 | 1 715 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 260 | 371 | 1 726 | 2 357 |
| Food use | 255 | 341 | 1 318 | 1 914 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| Non-food use | 5 | 30 | 293 | 328 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 100 | 100 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 260 | 262 | 120 | 642 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 260 | 262 | 70 | 592 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 41 | 41 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 41 | 41 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 14 | 19 | 72 | 105 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 108 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 165 |