The country, and the Pacific coastal areas in particular, continues to be affected by abnormally dry weather and high temperatures associated with El Niņo. The outlook is uncertain for planting of the 1998/99 cereal crops as these conditions are expected to prevail in the weeks ahead. Plantings of maize and paddy, the main cereals, are intended to recover from the low levels of the previous year, when the crops were severely affected by drought, but much will depend on whether normal rains resume. Rice imports in 1998 (January/December) should be about 100 000 tonnes to compensate for the deficit in production. This compares to less than 20 000 tonnes in 1997.