Sowing of the 2003 wheat crop is underway. Output of the 2002 wheat crop is now estimated at 17.5 million tonnes compared to 16 million tonnes in 2001. Good winter rains and snow cover have helped boost yields.
Wheat imports in the current 2002/03 (July/June) marketing year are expected to be around one million tonnes. Maize imports are also forecast to decrease by nearly 200 000 tonnes to about one million tonnes.