| Area: | 246 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March/June to October/November |
| Population: | 6.5 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 510 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; mountainous coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots and tubers, coarse grains |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Following good rains in the first half of September, precipitation decreased in the east in late September and October and stopped in late October, except in the extreme south-east. Torrential rains occurred in the west in October. Rice and coarse grains are maturing or being harvested. Pastures are abundant. The pest situation remains calm
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. In the 1995 marketing year, the cereal import requirement is estimated at 302 000 tons. Emergency assistance is being distributed to Liberian and Sierra-Leonean refugees, numbering 536 000 according to the July 1995 WFP/UNHCR assessment mission.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | 406 | 250 | 656 |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 100 | 120 | - | 220 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 2 | 30 | - | 32 |
| 1995 Domestic availability | - | 500 | 238 | 738 |
| 1994 Production | - | 500 | 228 | 728 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| 1995 Utilization | 100 | 700 | 240 | 1 040 |
| Food use | 97 | 570 | 200 | 867 |
| Non-food use | 3 | 70 | 40 | 113 |
| (Re)exports | - | 60 | - | 60 |
| 1995 Import Requirement | 100 | 200 | 2 | 302 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 98 | 160 | - | 258 |
| Food aid needs | 2 | 40 1/ | 2 | 44 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 14 | - | 14 |
| of which: Delivered | - | 14 | - | 14 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 15 | 96 | 31 | 142 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1994 production as % of normal: | 111 | |||
| 1995 import requirement as % of normal: | 137 | |||
| 1995 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 138 | |||
1/ Mostly for Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees.