CÔTE D'IVOIRE (9 February)
Harvesting of the 2004 cereal crops is complete. Production is not expected to recover significantly, in spite of overall favourable weather conditions during the growing season, due to persistent insecurity, conflict-induced population displacement and the prolonged partition of the country that continue to hamper production and marketing activities. The Government recently organised a crop assessment jointly with FAO and WFP, but results are not available yet.
In spite of reduced agricultural production since 2002, the overall food supply position remains adequate and inflation moderate, due mainly to sustained food imports in the government-held south and cross-border trade with Burkina Faso and Mali in the rebels-controlled North. However, food security for many households continues to be hampered by disruption of livelihoods especially in the west. In addition, due to continuous unfavourable market situation, smallholder cash crop producers are experiencing a significant loss of income. Although cotton production in 2004/05 is estimated to have increased to some 400 000 tonnes, compared to 180 000 tonnes in the previous year, due mainly to improved inputs distribution to cotton farmers, there is still uncertainty regarding the marketing of the produce.