BRAZIL (15 February)
Harvesting of the 2002 wheat crop was completed in December and output collected is estimated at 2.9 million tonnes, short of the 3.3 million tonnes harvested in 2001 but still above the past five-year average of 2.4 million tonnes. A higher output had been forecast earlier but adverse weather (frost, drought and late rains) affected the crops in the main producing states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. The increase in production with respect to the average was due to the government incentive programme for farmers, implemented in an effort to reduce the country reliance on imports. Annually, about 7 million tonnes of wheat is imported. Sowing of the 2003 wheat crop is due to start from late March and, in line with the government expanding programme, enlarged plantings are expected
Planting of the 2002/03 main maize crop (summer crop) has been virtually completed. Despite a slight decline in plantings with respect to the previous year, output of the 2003 main maize crop is officially forecast to increase to about 29.8 million tonnes, reflecting the good conditions of the crop and anticipated improved yields. Planting of the 2003 second season crop (“zafrihna”) in the large producing central and southern states is about to start while in the north-eastern states it has been completed. Financial incentives are also provided to maize growers in order to boost maize production. Production of maize in 2002 dropped significantly to 35.5 million tonnes from the near record level of 41.4 million tonnes reached in 2001. Output from the first (summer) and the second season crops (“zafrihnas”) in 2003 is estimated at about 37.1 million tonnes.
Harvesting of the 2003 paddy crop is about to start and an average output is forecast.