TAJIKISTAN (5 February)
Latest reports indicate that area planted to winter cereals increased by 94 000 hectares in 2003 compared with 2002. Land has continuously been diverted from cotton to cereals, as the country strives to meet its domestic food requirements through production. Wheat is the most important food crop and has been planted on 348 000 hectares of land. Provided that favourable weather conditions persist in spring and summer, Tajikistan is set to produce some 713 000 tonnes of grains, which is more than 91 000 tonnes higher than the improved harvest in 2002. The tentative forecast for this year includes 600 000 tonnes of wheat, 40 000 tonnes of maize, and 23 000 tonnes of barley. Given above average forecast harvest and domestic cereal utilisation, import requirement for 2003/04 is estimated at 526 000 tonnes of cereals, including 103 000 tonnes of estimated food aid.