TUNISIA (26 May)
Harvesting of the 2003 wheat crop is about to start while that of barley has already started. The crops benefited from normal to abundant rains at planting, which filled water reservoirs to adequate levels. Prospects are good and wheat output is forecast at 1.2 million tonnes, compared to an average of 1 million tonnes over the last five years and last year’s low harvest of 423 000 tonnes. Production of barley in 2003 is expected to almost double the average of the past 5 years.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast to decrease significantly from the previous year’s high 1.8 million tonnes to one million tonnes. Maize imports are anticipated to decline from 750 000 tonnes to about 700 000 tonnes.