CUBA (30 May)
Above-normal rains were reported in April, particularly in the far eastern provinces and in the central parts of the island. The rains helped replenish soil moisture in various areas that had been long affected by drought; yet, there were parts which did not fully benefit from the April rains, particularly in the western province of Pinar del Rio and the provinces of Holguin, Las Tunas and Santiago. These particular areas have been affected by drought since the beginning of the year, with significant damage to coffee crops.
The heavy rains disrupted harvesting operations of the 2002/03 sugar crop. It has been a blow to a crop affected by a variety of problems, mainly the critical shortage of agricultural inputs. Sugar output is believed to have sharply fallen from the already low 2001/02 crop of 3.6 million tonnes.
Sowing of the 2003 spring (main) paddy and maize crops has benefited from the heavy rains, and average plantings for both crops are forecast.