Unfavourable weather during the growing season has adversely affected the cereal crop now being harvested. Aggregate cereal production in 1997 is expected to fall to a 20-year low of about 1.08 million tons from a record of 4.6 million tons in the previous season and less than half the average for the previous five years. Drought has probably scorched about 65 percent of the country's 3.5 million hectares sown to cereals. Wheat output in 1997 is estimated at 750 000 tons, about 73 percent lower than in the previous year. Production of barley is estimated to decline sharply to 300 000 tons from 1.7 million tons harvested in 1996.

As a result of the low level of domestic output in 1997, imports of wheat (excluding semolina) in 1997/98 (July/June) and those of coarse grains are forecast to increase sharply from last year�s 3.0 million tons and 0.8 million tons, respectively.

WFP�s relief operation for 1997/98 (July/June) provides 6 250 tons of basic food commodities to assist 49 000 most vulnerable Western Sahara refugees.