Dry conditions prevail. The aggregate 1997 cereal production is estimated at 911 000 tonnes, which is about average. Nevertheless, the large number of refugees in some of the main producing areas is causing substantial damage, including soil degradation and deforestation.
Latest estimates put the total number of refugees in Guinea at 405 000, of whom about 210 000 are Sierra Leoneans and 195 000 are Liberians. Organized repatriation is underway for the Liberian refugees and will be completed by the end of the year. Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees has also started and about 3 500 refugees have already returned. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 400 000 tonnes.