Planting of the main rice crop for harvest in November/December is well underway, under generally favourable weather conditions. The target for aggregate paddy production in 1996 is 1.7 million tons, which would be considerably above average and some 20 percent higher than the flood affected crop last year. Although aggregate paddy production in 1995, estimated at 1.4 million tons, was about average for the preceding five years, it was 15 percent below the previous year's bumper harvest of 1.65 million tons. The reduction was attributed to serious floods last July/August, which destroyed some 62 000 hectares of paddy in six provinces, four of which faced serious food shortages. As a result, the cereal import requirement for 1996 was estimated at some 133 000 tons, of which 38 000 tons were needed as emergency food assistance for 374 000 people for varying periods of 6 months to a year. So far, 13 800 tons have been pledged, meeting fully a WFP appeal for assistance for the most urgent cases. In addition, a joint appeal with the Government increased donor pledges for a further 15 000 tons.