FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.35
| Area: | 245 860 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; rainy season: March/June to October/November |
| Population: | 7.57 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$450 (2000) |
| 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 |
The first rains registered in the south in March covered the entire country only in early June. Precipitation remained below average until early July. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following satisfactory harvests in 2000 and 2001. Markets are well supplied, except in the south-east where recurrent rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agricultural and marketing activities.
The presence of a large refugee population and the persistent instability in the sub-region have exacted a heavy toll on the country. According to UNICEF, at least 13 000 new Liberians refugees entered the country in May and June of whom 80 percent were women and children. Armed clashes in and around the country have also resulted in increasing numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Approximately 41 000 Liberians refugees in camps are currently receiving WFP assistance.
Cereal import requirement for the 2002 marketing year is estimated at 331 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 769 | 215 | 984 |
| Previous five years average imports | 117 | 244 | 3 | 364 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 5 | 546 | 237 | 788 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 789 | 237 | 1 026 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 526 | 237 | 763 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 5 | 20 | - | 25 |
| 2002 Utilization | 115 | 761 | 243 | 1 119 |
| Food use | 112 | 636 | 198 | 946 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 3 | 115 | 45 | 164 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 110 | 215 | 6 | 331 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 100 | 200 | - | 300 |
| Food aid needs | 10 | 15 | 6 | 31 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 6 | 15 | 6 | 27 |
| of which: delivered | 6 | 15 | 6 | 27 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 15 | 84 | 26 | 125 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 104 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 91 |