Seasonably dry conditions prevail generally. Sporadic rains were registered in the extreme south in mid-May but the weather remained dry countrywide in late May, compared to last year when the rainy season started in late May. In early June, the first significant rains covered the extreme south- east. Land preparation is underway in the south and planting will progress northwards with the onset of rains.
Following a reduced 1997 cereal harvest due to a long dry spell in July/August, the overall food supply situation is going to be tight in the affected areas during the lean season. In the urban areas, food supply is adequate and prices of rice are stable and even decreased in mid-May. In rural areas, supplies and prices of rice are also generally stable but prices of coarse grains are increasing, notably in the north and the centre-north. In January, the Government launched an appeal for food assistance amounting to 82 600 tonnes of cereals to cover the needs of about 2.5 million affected people.