JAMAICA (30 May)
Planting of the 2003 maize and paddy crops started in April with the arrival of the first seasonal rains. Average outputs are tentatively forecast, assuming normal weather conditions prevail. Growing conditions are satisfactory for other food crops such as yams, eddoes, fruits and vegetables, which are important staples in the population diet.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) should be about 230 000 tonnes, similar to the volume of imports in the previous year, while maize imports are expected to increase slightly above the 2002/03 imports level of 195 000 tonnes. Rice imports in 2003 (January/December) are anticipated to be about 90 000 tonnes, close to 2002 imports.