SIERRA LEONE* (11 February)
Below-normal rains and dry spells during the 2003 growing season adversely affected the recently harvested paddy crop, which is currently estimated to have declined compared to the previous year’s good harvest. The 2004 cereal crop, mostly rice, will be sown from April for harvest from September. Cereal imports in 2004, mostly rice, are estimated at some 320 000 tonnes, compared to 308 000 tonnes imported last year.
The security situation in the country remains calm. Repatriation activities continue for the Sierras Leonean refugees returning from Guinea. WFP, which is currently supporting a total of some 84 000 beneficiaries, anticipates that about 12 000 people will return in 2004, although so far less than 1 000 have signed up to leave Guinea.