Land preparation has started for the autumn planting of wheat crops in Argentina. Planting intentions for year 2001 are forecast to increase slightly due to the expectation of moderate wheat price increases in the forthcoming months. Harvesting of coarse grains started in March, and the outlook is favourable thanks to the abundant rains that fell over the central provinces throughout the summer. Maize harvest is progressing according to schedule and output is forecast to reach 15.4 million tonnes. Harvesting of paddy crops has also started in the northern provinces, and total output is expected to fall because of a reduction in the area planted. The low planting of paddy is due to increases in energy prices and a reduction in paddy prices following a decrease in the quantity demanded by Brazil.
Heavy rains and drought forced the government to declare most of the country a natural disaster area in February. Food aid and preventing measures of epidemic outbreaks are currently being provided by the international community. The heavy rain that fell over the country since January in the "altiplano" region (highlands) overflowed the banks of the rivers causing localized floods in La Paz, Cochabamba, Potos� and Beni. Santa Cruz is now suffering from floods and landslides in the Chaco region that previously was being hit by drought. The crops affected include maize, rice, wheat and tubers. Road damages have complicated the supply of food, and a rapid escalation of food prices has been observed in some local markets. The government is currently assessing the damage on cereal production, and preliminary reports indicate that the crop area affected is about 7 per cent of the total planted. The outlook in terms of total food production is yet uncertain because the rains also benefited food crops in some highlands and valleys, where early harvests are yielding higher than average. Food aid pledges amount to 69 000 tonnes, of which 65 000 tonnes have been delivered.
Rains began to fall in March after a dry start to the rainier season (February/May) in semi-arid north eastern Brazil. PROCLIMA's current forecast is that total rainfall will not deviate from the historic average. More to the south, harvesting of coarse grains has started on schedule (March/April) in central and southern Brazil. The increase in planting area and the beneficial summer rains will produce a bumper crop. According to Brazil's National Food Supply Agency (CONAB), maize output is expected to satisfy domestic demand for the first time since the early 1980s. A 10 percent fall in the area planted to second season maize (safrinha) is forecast following a reduction in prices (farmers are expected to replace it with sorghum). Harvesting of paddy crops was delayed in central Brazil, and the quality of the grains produced so far is poor. Production for year 2001 is forecast to decrease to about 11 million tonnes from last year's 11.4 million tonnes due to a reduction in paddy prices.
Having finished the wheat harvest, and despite the increased planted area, current estimates of production indicate that output may not reach the 1.5 million tonnes previously forecasted due to cold and wet weather during seasoning. The outlook for the estimated 83 000 hectares of maize crops planted is uncertain, as floods in Valpara�so have caused localized damage to crops, while more to the south (Temuco) higher than average yields are currently being obtained.
Dry and very dry weather conditions all over the country during February and March favoured the harvest of the irrigated second season coarse grain crops of year 2000, as well as the preparation and planting of the 2001 rainfed first season crops. Moderate rains at the end of March are helping germination, but more water will be needed in April to assist the normal development of the crop. Paddy output in Colombia in year 2001 is estimated to remain at last year's some 1.8 million tonnes. Rice prices increased by 25 per cent in February, and the government authorized the import of 160 000 tonnes to halt the increase until the month of July, when the harvest of the main season crop is expected.
Heavy rains in coastal areas throughout March caused localized floods which killed over 40 people and forced the evacuation of several thousand families from their homes. Reports indicate some localized damage to coarse grain crops and no damages to the important coffee and paddy crops. The rest of the country saw moderate rains in March, which are favouring the development of the 2001 first season coarse grains crops. Harvest of winter yellow maize planted in the highlands is due to start in May, and a record output is early forecast. Harvest of paddy (cultivated in coastal areas) is due starts in mid-April, and reports indicate that, despite the heavy rains, the crop looks in good conditions.
Planting of 2001 wheat crops (November/March) in the important producing provinces of Jun�n, Hancavelica and Ayacucho is completed, and harvest is due to start from May. The forecast is for a small reduction in output due to a fall in the area planted. A similar outlook is forecast for white maize which is sown from September till January, and due to be harvested from April. Conversely, yellow maize production in 2001 is forecast to increase reflecting both water availability and larger plantings (white maize is planted all year round and used as animal feed). In relation to paddy, the good weather is pushing upwards earlier forecasts of unchanged outputs, and the crop (mainly rain-fed) is provisionally estimated to produce 1.9 million tonnes in year 2001.
The Government has declared a state of emergency in Puno, Arequipa and Tacna after heavy rains in April caused localized floods. Some 170 000 people and 48 000 hectares of crops were affected and about 50 000 livestock animals were lost.
Land preparation has started for the forthcoming wheat crop and the area planted is forecast to increase slightly relative to last year's 123 000 hectares due to the better weather and the expectation of higher regional prices in 2001. Harvest is in progress for coarse grains crops which were favoured by the abundant summer rains. Maize output is expected to reach 200 000 tonnes compared to last year's 65 000 (70 per cent of maize and sorghum was lost in year 2000 due to a prolonged drought). Paddy harvest started in March and yields so far indicate that earlier forecasts of a total output of about 900 000 tonnes may need to be revised upwards in the next months.
Planting of first season coarse grain crops will begin with the arrival of the rains at the end of April and will continue throughout May. Earlier forecasts of paddy production in 2001 are revised to some 800 000 tonnes, up slightly from an estimated 750 000 tonnes in year 2000 due to larger plantings. The increase is due to lower interest rates for producers and a 20 percent reduction in fertilizer prices.
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