Planting of the 1997 first season irrigated and rainfed paddy crops has started under favourable weather conditions. Prospects for the country as whole have improved mostly as a result of recent government efforts to rehabilitate irrigation systems in main growing areas of the central Artibonite Department and the south-eastern Cayes plains, coupled with a programme for the distribution of low price fertilizers to farmers. The outlook is equally good for the maize crop currently being planted. Area is expected to increase due to an anticipated diversion of land for sugar cane to maize.
The crop and food situation is critical, however, in the North-West Department. A severe dry spell is reported for the last 6 months, aggravated by the precarious conditions of the impoverished irrigation systems. A joint FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission visited the area in early March and reports that cereal, pulses and potato outputs are expected to decrease by 70 percent over last year. Mainly as a consequence of this anticipated decline in production, prices of local food and imported items have significantly increased. Eight counties, with a total of about 350 000 people, are reported to be affected. Food assistance from the international community is required and early forecasts for 1997 indicate that some 100 000 tons in cereals are needed to meet requirements.