Rains started in late March in the extreme south-east, increased in the south in April and became abundant over the entire country from May to September. Cumulative precipitation as of early November is above average. Planted areas for the 1997 growing season are slightly larger than last year, normal to above average for rice, cassava and peanuts, and below average for maize and fonio. The main food crops are currently being harvested and are expected to be about normal. However, the large number of refugees in some of the main producing areas is causing substantial damage, including soil degradation and deforestation.
Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 545 000. Food assistance is provided to 60 000 Sierra Leoneans and 105 000 Liberian refugees. New refugees have arrived from Sierra Leone, notably in Maritime and Forest Guinea. Although some of the Liberian refugees are expected to return to Liberia in 1998, the presence of refugees is increasing the demand for food which results in rapid depletion of stocks available and price increases. The cereal import requirement for 1997 is estimated at 375 000 tons.