Land preparation and planting of the first maize crop are starting in the south with the arrival of the rains. Elsewhere, seasonably dry conditions prevail.
The food supply situation is going to be somewhat tight in the traditionally deficit areas of the north. The government has launched an appeal for international assistance to cover the needs of populations affected by a poor crop in late 1997 following drought conditions and attacks by African Migratory Locusts. The cereal import requirement for 1997/98 (July/June) is estimated at 250 000 tonnes of wheat and rice and 10 000 tonnes of coarse grains.