The 1997 cereal crop is estimated at 431 000 tons, 15 percent below last year’s good harvest, due to below normal rainfall. Rainfall was characterized by a late start, an extended mid- season dry spell and a variable finish, resulting in canceled or delayed planting and lower yields, in several regions, particularly in western coastal areas. The area planted has increased thanks to NGO and UN Agency interventions providing seeds and tools to internally displaced persons and returnees. However, cereal production continues to be constrained by the shortage of fertilizers, plant protection equipment and chemicals, hand tools and animal traction equipment in the main producing areas.

The national food supply situation continues to be tight. With domestic cereal utilization estimated at 972 000 tons, some 531 000 tons of cereal need to be imported during the marketing year 1997/98. An estimated 279 000 tons may be imported by commercial channels, leaving a shortfall of 252 000 tons to be met by food aid, including 128 000 tons of emergency food aid for vulnerable groups. In addition, food aid will be required to assist the rehabilitation process. Furthermore, the recent outbreak of hostilities in the north- east is worsening an already precarious security situation, indicating that more food assistance will be required in the coming months. Food aid pledges for the current marketing year amount to 183 000 tons so far, of which 129 000 tons have been delivered.