In Sudan, serious food supply difficulties are being experienced in traditional food deficit areas of North and West Korfudan and North Darfur, where 1996 cereal output fell sharply, household stocks are near depletion and people have little purchasing power. Food assistance is urgently needed in these areas. Elsewhere in eastern Africa, the food situation has deteriorated in Burundi, where food prices have risen sharply since late July.
The food situation is improving significantly in Southern Africa, following a sharp recovery in the coarse grains harvest earlier in the year. However, in Namibia, livestock conditions have deteriorated due to serious shortages of water and pastures. Substantial food assistance continues to be required in several countries, particularly Angola, Lesotho and Mozambique.
Crop conditions are generally favourable in western Africa, although below-normal rains in July stressed crops and necessitated replanting in several areas of the Sahel. Crop prospects remain poor in Liberia and Sierra Leone, following several years of civil strife.
Heavy rainfall and floods have devastated parts of Asia, especially China, Bangladesh, India and the Korean peninsula, though overall crop prospects remain satisfactory. The floods in Korea DPR, however, are likely to accentuate food problems. In Sri Lanka earlier drought conditions will result in a substantial reduction in 1995/96 rice production.
The outlook for coarse grains remains uncertain in Central America, despite some improvement in the maize and sorghum crop in Mexico. In South America, maize production was above average and the outlook for wheat is favourable, with near record crops expected in Argentina and Brazil.
The 1996 grain harvest in the CIS is expected to be larger than last year mainly due to a sharp recovery in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. Output in the Ukraine, however, fell sharply. Overall production of wheat is set to increase significantly.
In Europe, the cereal crop is forecast to be larger in 1996 following generally favourable conditions. Significantly higher production in the EC is expected to exceed reduced output in some eastern countries.
In the United States, a larger wheat and coarse grain crop is in prospect. A significant increase in spring wheat production is expected to more than offset the reduced winter wheat crop. Following a big recovery in maize plantings and generally favourable conditions, coarse grain output is expected to recover sharply from last year’s reduced crop.
In Australia, a bumper wheat crop is anticipated, reflecting abundant rains. The recently harvested summer coarse grain crop was above average, recovering sharply from three years of drought-reduced output.