Reports from the country’s meteorology department indicate that the southwest monsoon had been delayed. A drought last year led to a serious reduction in agricultural production significantly reducing the country’s main maha and second yala rice crops. Aggregate paddy production in 1997 is put at 2.457 million tons and total availability of milled rice at 1.682 million tons, including a carry-over stock of around 60 000 tons. Against this the country requires 2.170 million tons for total utilization, including consumption seed, feed and contingency stocks, leaving an import requirement of 488 000 tons of rice for 1997, most of which is anticipated to be commercial. In addition it is assumed that the Government will import some 900 000 tons of wheat to meet demand.
The food situation in northern parts of the country continues to give cause for concern. At the beginning of June, it was reported that the government were transporting fresh food supplies to Wanni, following reports of stocks running low. Humanitarian agencies report that food stocks in the area were strained by the number of fresh refugees and intensified fighting earlier.