HAITI (30 May)
Normal to above-normal rains in April benefited planting of the 2003 first season rainfed maize and paddy crops, as well as sowing of bean and other minor food crops. Harvest of the maize crop is due to start from June while that of the rainfed paddy crop is due from September. The outlook is good and some recovery is expected from the 2002 drought affected crops. Prospects are also good for the important irrigated paddy crop to be harvested from June.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) should remain similar to the volume of 295 000 tonnes imported in the previous year, while maize imports are expected to decline slightly from the 70 000 tonnes imported in 2002/03 (July/June). Rice imports in 2003 are also anticipated to decrease from the 250 000 tonnes imported in 2002 to about 230 000 tonnes.