| Area: | 230 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north |
| Population: | 18.166 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 390 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-June |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 27 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Rains started but remained limited in late March, and abundant precipitation occurred in April over the whole country, allowing the planting of the first maize and rice crops in the south and land preparation for planting of millet and sorghum in the north. Precipitation decreased but remained widespread in May and June. In June, rains decreased significantly in the northern areas, where rainfall was less than 70 percent of normal, which could hamper the development of recently planted millet and sorghum crops.
Food distributions are underway for 30 000 vulnerable people in the extreme north, where the 1997 cereal production has been about 25 percent lower than usual, and should continue until the start of the harvesting period. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. About 30 000 Liberian refugees are receiving food assistance. The 1998 cereal import requirement is estimated at 440 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice. As a result of mitigated coarse grains output, cereal exports to neighbouring countries are expected to be below normal in 1998.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 165 | 1 410 | 1 575 |
| Normal Imports | 175 | 200 | 15 | 390 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 60 | 40 | 12 | 112 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | 10 | 151 | 1 604 | 1 765 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 227 | 1 564 | 1 790 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 151 | 1 564 | 1 715 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | 40 | 50 |
| 1998 Utilization | 190 | 371 | 1 644 | 2 205 |
| Food Use | 187 | 316 | 1 317 | 1 820 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 3 | 45 | 322 | 370 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 180 | 220 | 40 | 440 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 180 | 190 | 30 | 400 |
| Food aid needs | - | 30 | 10 | 40 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 38 | 1 | 4 | 43 |
| of which: Delivered | 36 | - | 4 | 40 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 10 | 17 | 73 | 100 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 114 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 113 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 36 |
