RWANDA (25 February)
The results of a crop assessment mission organized by the Government and international agencies at local level in January 2003 to estimate the outcome of the 2003 first season food crops are still unavailable. However, despite a significant delay in the start of the rainy season and shortages of sweet potatoes cuttings, unofficial results point to an increase in this season output. This could be explained by an apparent underestimation of last year’s same season production in the light of a downward revision of the country’s total population.
Prices of main staple sweet potato have increased sharply from it level of a year earlier and those of cassava and banana remain at high. Food difficulties are expected in provinces were food production was insufficient, namely Gikongoro, Butare and Kibuye and in pockets affected by dry weather during the growing season.