BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 72 000 sq.km
Climate: Mostly tropical wet-dry; extreme south tropical wet; one rainy season: March-October
Population: 4.51 million (1995 estimate) with more than 160 000 Sierra Leonean refugees located
in neighbouring countries; G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 150 (1994)
Specific characteristics of the country: Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
Logistics: Roads inadequate
Major foodcrops: Rice, roots and tubers
Marketing year: January/December; Lean season: July-August
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: 57 percent
CURRENT SITUATION
Rainfall was abundant during the first and second dekads of July, decreased in late July and early August and resumed during the first and second dekads of August. Millet, sorghum and maize are flowering/heading and the harvest of rice has started in some areas. The 1996 output is expected to recover from last year’s level following the implementation of the peace process and rehabilitation programmes that allowed rice to be planted in some producing areas.
The security situation is improving following the cease fire after the elections. Some displaced persons have already returned, notably in Makeni and Bo regions. The main roads towards the east and the north (Segbwema, Bo, Kenema, and Makeni) have been reopened and food is being delivered in these areas. However, the security situation is still not very stable and ceasefire violations continue to occur in many areas. It is currently estimated that 654 000 people require emergency food assistance within a total of 1.6 million internally displaced people.
Multisectoral needs assessment surveys have been organized by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, with the assistance of UN agencies and NGOs. FAO assessed the impact of the civil war on the farm population in Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Kabala and Bonthe and confirmed that conflict-affected farmers received seeds, planting materials and tools through the MANR/FAO Emergency Assistance Programme with the help of NGOs.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 293 | 60 | 353 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 40 | 120 | 3 | 163 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 18 | 15 | 3 | 36 |
| 1996 Domestic availability | - | 191 | 56 | 247 |
| 1995 Production | - | 171 | 55 | 226 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | 20 | 1 | 21 |
| 1996 Utilization | 50 | 371 | 71 | 492 |
| Food use | 49 | 351 | 61 | 461 |
| Non-food use | 1 | 20 | 10 | 31 |
| Possible stock build up | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 1996 Import Requirement | 50 | 180 | 15 | 245 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 30 | 130 | - | 160 |
| Food aid needs | 20 | 50 | 15 | 85 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 44 | 10 | 23 | 77 |
| of which: Delivered | 33 | - | 21 | 54 |
| Donor-financed local purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 9 | 90 | 13 | 112 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 64 | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 150 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 236 | |||