Harvesting of the 1997 first season coarse grain, paddy and bean crops is still underway in some parts of the country. Planting was significantly delayed because of the long drought which affected the country, particularly in the northwest, as well as the Central Plateau and parts of the north east and Grand’Anse in the south west, for most of the first half of the year. The outlook is poor and early predictions indicate that maize output is likely to decline from last year’s average 210 000 tons to about 130 000 tons. Paddy production should decline to some 55 000 to 60 000 tons from about 80 000 tons collected in 1996. The bean crop is forecast to be about 45 000 tons.