Prospects for the 1997 main season cereal crops to be harvested from November are favourable, reflecting good cumulative rains since June in most agricultural areas. Prices of cereals, which have remained stable in the past months started to increase in June. An FAO Mission which visited the country last December estimated cereal production one-third below average and food aid requirements in 1997 at 289 000 tons of cereals. However, pledges by the end of June amounted to only 29 000 tons. Food security in the country remains highly precarious.