LIBERIA* (8 October)
Harvesting of the 2005 paddy crop, virtually the only cereal grown in the country, is due to start soon. Production is anticipated (no survey has been done to assess the crop production to quantify) to show a slight increase in view of improved security. However, supplies of seeds and implements were limited and farmers were unable to procure seeds from their own resources due to the unaffordable prices. Secondly, the late return of IDPs and returnees has not given them the opportunity to prepare enough land for cultivation. Many of the agencies involved in the distribution of seeds and implements were unable to reach the remote farmers due to bad road conditions. The lack of agricultural agents in the rural areas has hindered the delivery of these inputs. In some areas farmers have not been able to cultivate due to lack of land and the seed they received has been consumed as food. Besides FAO and WFP, there are many NGOs which were involved in the distribution of seeds and implements. Most of the seeds were distributed in four primary counties, followed by nine counties as second and third priority. In total, 3 203 tonnes of rice seeds has been distributed in 2005. Due to input constraints, production levels remain insufficient to meet household food needs, unless supplemented with WFP food assistance, specially during the critical lean months. WFP will continue to provide assistance to households through various modalities, until the resettled population becomes self reliant. It is projected that about 171 096 farmers will need seeds and implements in 2006.
The repatriation of refugees and resettlement of IDPs started in October and November 2004 respectively. As of mid October 2005, 270 780 persons had been repatriated and resettled. This includes 42 108 Liberian returnees and 228 672 IDPs. UNHCR reports that in December 2003, over 340 000 Liberian refugees were in neighbouring countries, while an estimated 500 000 were internally displaced. With the improvement of the security situation and the opening of roads, the resettlement programme can be accelerated to resettle the majority of the returnees before the next agricultural season. Their early resettlement supplemented with the timely distribution of seeds and implements can be expected to improve production levels in 2006. Until the completion of the resettlement programme, WFP will continue to target its operation to high resettlement counties with a progressive shift from emergency to recovery programmes.