COSTA RICA (14 February)
Harvesting of the 2002/03 second season maize crop (mostly white) has been completed under seasonally dry weather. Maize output of the first and the second season crops is provisionally estimated at a low 12 000 tonnes, largely due to below-average plantings aggravated by moisture deficits throughout the season. Also, as a result of the reduced plantings mainly caused by the uncertainty of the government import policy poor output of paddy, the main cereal, has been collected. Production of beans, an important staple in the country, is estimated at an average level of about 14 000 tonnes.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2002/03 (July/June) are forecast at about 200 000 tonnes, similar to the previous year, while maize imports (mostly yellow), are expected to increase slightly from 560 000 tonnes in 2001/02 (July/June). Rice imports in 2003 are tentatively forecast at some 75 000 tonnes, but they could increase to about 100 000 tonnes, depending on the outcome of the 2003 first season paddy crop.