Harvesting of the main season paddy crop is now complete after several weeks of delay resulting from the late start of the season due to El Niņo-related drought. This year's paddy production was provisionally forecast by the March 1998 FAO/WFP Mission at 47.5 million tonnes, some 3.6 percent below the 1997 reduced harvest. Over 90 percent of the decrease is attributed to the reduction in planted area. However, the final paddy production estimate for 1998 will critically depend on the outcome of the secondary crop harvest in August. The Mission called for a large-scale international assistance to meet the shortfall in rice, the country's staple food. The Indonesian Government plans to import approximately 1.5 million tonnes, leaving an uncovered deficit of 2 million tonnes.
Recently an Emergency Operation with a total cost of about US$ 88.2 million to assist 4.6 million most vulnerable people was approved jointly by FAO and WFP for a period of 395 days. An appeal for a total cost of US$18.6 million is also made by FAO for technical assistance and agricultural rehabilitation of drought-stricken areas.