BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (12 May)
Latest reports indicate that favourable weather conditions have persisted throughout the country and both winter and spring crops are in satisfactory conditions. Spring crops account for more than 80 percent of the total cereal crops, which is also highly susceptible to weather volatility and summer floods. April floods have damaged some 20 000 hectares of crops in Banja Luka, Prijedor, Mrkonjic-Grad and Doboj regions. However, some of the damaged crop areas will be replanted with summer crops. An estimated 300 000 people have been affected by floods. Provided that favourable weather conditions prevail over the summer, aggregate cereal harvest is forecast at just over one million tonnes, which is similar to the harvest in 2003/04 marketing year but below the good harvest in 2002/03 by about 300 000 tonnes. Aggregate cereal import requirements during the 2004/05 marketing year is forecast at about 400 000 tonnes, including 60 000 tonnes in food aid.