In making its assessment, the mission held discussions and
interviews with various government ministries, UN and bilateral
agencies and NGOs. The mission also toured food producing areas
as far as the prevailing security situation in the country
permitted and held discussions with farmers, village chiefs and
IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons). The mission found that
livestock production suffered more from the consequences of the
civil strife than crop production as cassava, the country’s
staple, is a durable crop able to withstand adverse conditions.
Production of the main food crops in 1998 is forecast to reach
791 000 tonnes for cassava, 77 000 tonnes for bananas/plantains,
16 000 tonnes for pulses and slightly over 2 000 tonnes for
cereals. These production volumes are similar to those obtained
in recent years. On the basis of an estimated total population
of 3 124 000 at mid-1998 and after allowing for waste and other
food uses, total food production in cereal-equivalent terms will
fall short of utilisat