Harvesting of the 1998 cereal crop is almost complete and production is expected to be below average. Erratic and poorly distributed rainfall in March and April seriously affected yields in several parts of the country, leading to a major crop loss. Total cereal output is not expected to exceed 10 000 tonnes, a sharp drop compared to the 1997 below average crop of 27 000 tonnes. Even in good years, the country imports over half of its cereal needs. It is therefore anticipated that available grain stocks and planned imports by major commercial millers will meet national requirements during the 1998/99 marketing year.