| Area: | 246 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; one rainy season: March/June to October/November |
| Population: | 7.0 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 550 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; mountainous coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Rice, roots and tubers, coarse grains |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 52 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
First rains occurred in late March and in April in the extreme south east, allowing the planting of rice in this area. Rainfall became abundant over the whole country only in mid-May and remained abundant and widespread in June. Recently planted rice, maize, millet and sorghum in most parts of the country are developing satisfactorily, benefiting from good agro-climatic conditions.
Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 468 000 (269 000 Sierra Leoneans and 199 000 Liberians), located in the border areas and in Conakry. Food assistance is provided to most of them. About 45 000 children are also receiving food assistance through school feeding. Organised repatriation is underway for the Liberian refugees and about 44 000 have been repatriated since the beginning of the year. The high number of refugees in Faranah, Kissidougou and Guéckédou areas is putting a high pressure on natural resources and affecting agricultural production in these areas. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 410 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 720 | 200 | 920 |
| Normal Imports | - | 110 | 260 | 370 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 1 | 32 | 2 | 35 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | 472 | 204 | 676 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 707 | 204 | 911 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 472 | 204 | 676 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Utilization | 115 | 742 | 229 | 1 086 |
| Food Use | 112 | 626 | 192 | 930 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 3 | 106 | 37 | 146 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 115 | 270 | 25 | 410 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 115 | 260 | 25 | 400 |
| Food aid needs | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 16 | 90 | 28 | 133 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 99 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 111 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 29 |
