| Area: | 96 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Southern half tropical wet, northern half tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March-November |
| Population: | 2.8 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: n.a. |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads adequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots and tubers, oils |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: July-August |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 48 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Limited rainfall started in mid-March in the south and became widespread over the whole country in late March. Abundant precipitation was recorded over the entire country in April and May, followed by a seasonal decrease in June. Cumulative rainfall is above normal since the beginning of the growing season. Following these good climatic conditions, the main maize and rice crops, planted in April, are growing satisfactorily, as well as cassava and yams.
With a stable security situation throughout the country, humanitarian aid can be delivered and farming activities carried out in most areas, and an improvement in the nutritional status of the population is reported. Food supply on the urban market is stable. However, food prices remain high. Liberia remains heavily dependent on food aid. The number of refugees and displaced persons is currently estimated at 800 000, including some 56 000 new arrivals from Sierra Leone. Organised repatriation is underway for about 480 000 Liberian refugees in neighbouring countries and should be completed by the end of 1998. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is currently estimated at 240 000 tonnes, including 130 000 tonnes of food aid.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 76 | 1 | 77 |
| Normal Imports | 40 | 70 | 35 | 145 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 35 | 20 | 35 | 90 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | 112 | 2 | 114 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 168 | - | 168 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 112 | - | 112 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| 1998 Utilization | 90 | 212 | 52 | 354 |
| Food Use | 88 | 202 | 52 | 342 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 2 | 10 | - | 12 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 90 | 100 | 50 | 240 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 10 | 50 | 50 | 110 |
| Food aid needs | 80 | 50 | - | 130 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 7 | - | 5 | 12 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 31 | 71 | 18 | 120 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 218 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 166 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 144 |
