MYANMAR (31 May)
Planting of main season rice, accounting for around 85 percent of aggregate production, will start with the arrival of the southwest monsoon rain. The remaining 15 percent of the paddy crop comes from the second or dry season crop. The aggregate 2002 paddy production is estimated at 22.8 million tonnes, some 4 percent above the previous year’s output, due to an increase in area and yield. Rice export is also up from 0.95 million tonnes to 1.1 million tonnes. The 2003 paddy output and export are projected to increase further.
The 2002 wheat output is estimated at 103 000 tonnes, virtually unchanged from the previous year. The 2002 coarse grains are estimated at 837 000 tonnes, a record in the last five years as a result of expanded area. The wheat import and maize export in 2002/03 are estimated at 30 000 tonnes and 168 000 tonnes, respectively.