YEMEN (2 June)
Planting of the main sorghum and millet crops to be harvested towards the end of the year is almost complete. Good rains in parts have boosted soil moisture. The output from the 2002 sorghum crop is estimated at some 268 000 tonnes, about 30 percent lower than the previous year. Output from the wheat crop also decreased slightly to 150 000 tonnes. Maize production estimated at 50 000 tonnes was similar to that of 2001. Imports of cereals in 2003 - mainly wheat - are forecast at 2.4 million tonnes, slightly lower than the previous year.