FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.58
| Area: | 886 000 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry climate with two rainy seasons in north (November-December and March-May) and one in south (November-April) |
| Population: | 34.77 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$270 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; cereal surplus production in south and south-west; cereal deficit in central and north-west. Distribution difficulties |
| Logistics: | Serious shortage of rolling stock, fuel and spare parts |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, roots, tubers, sorghum, pulses, plantains, rice |
| Marketing year: | June/May; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 60 percent |
The harvesting season is near completion and official reports indicate improved overall crop production. Preliminary estimates indicate total cereal production (maize, rice, wheat, sorghum and millet) in 2002 at 4.3 million tonnes, about 10 percent above last year’s output due to favourable rains. Similarly, prospects for non-cereal crops (pulses, potatoes, cassava and plantains) are reported to be good.
The overall food situation remains satisfactory with increased on-farm stocks and market supplies. Nationally maize prices have declined since April with the harvest. Adequate availability of water and forage has also improved the food security of most pastoralists. However, localized food shortages are anticipated in some northern parts of the country during the 2002/03 marketing year due to poor performance of the short (vuli) rains and the long (masika) rains. Insufficient pasture and water is also predicted in these areas.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 89 | 788 | 3 135 | 4 012 |
| Previous five years average imports | 209 | 72 | 74 | 355 |
| 2002/03 Domestic Availability | 149 | 507 | 3 704 | 4 360 |
| 2002 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 79 | 780 | 3 704 | 4 563 |
| 2002 Production (rice in milled terms) | 79 | 507 | 3 704 | 4 290 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 70 | - | - | 70 |
| 2002/03 Utilization | 269 | 587 | 3 774 | 4 630 |
| Food use | 241 | 537 | 3 294 | 4 072 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 8 | 50 | 370 | 428 |
| Exports or re-exports | 20 | - | 50 | 70 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 60 | 60 |
| 2002/03 Import Requirement | 120 | 80 | 70 | 270 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 120 | 80 | 20 | 220 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 50 | 50 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| of which: delivered | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 7 | 15 | 95 | 117 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2002 Production as % of average: | 114 | |||
| 2002/03 Import requirement as % of average: | 76 |