FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.46
| Area: | 823 000 sq km | |
| Climate: | Mostly arid (south-west and coast) or semi-arid. Only north and north-east gets regular rainfall in November-April | |
| Population: | 1.98 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$2 030 (2000) | |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Arid to semi-arid country; cereal production mainly in the north | |
| Logistics: | Good road and railway network | |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet, maize, sorghum, wheat | |
| Marketing year: | May/April; | |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 48 percent | |
The 2002 cereal crop was sharply reduced. Final official estimates indicate a cereal output of 69 000 tonnes, 36 percent below last year’s normal level. Insufficient rains at planting time sharply reduce the area sown to millet/sorghum and maize, while a dry spell in January adversely affected yields. Subsequent precipitation arrived too late to prevent yield reductions. The cereal import requirement in 2002/03 (May/April) is estimated at 156 000 tonnes. The food supply situation is anticipated to be tight in the remainder of the year, particularly for farmers who gathered a poor harvest last year and for vulnerable groups in urban areas.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 5 | - | 105 | 110 |
| Previous five years average imports | 56 | - | 92 | 148 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 6 | - | 75 | 81 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 6 | - | 63 | 69 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 6 | - | 63 | 69 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 12 | 12 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 54 | - | 183 | 237 |
| Food use | 53 | - | 176 | 229 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 48 | - | 108 | 156 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 48 | - | 108 | 156 |
| 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) | 28 | - | 95 | 124 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 63 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 105 |