PARAGUAY (30 May)
Planting of the 2003 wheat crop is delayed due to the lack of adequate and regular rains. An above-average 250 000 hectares are intended to be planted to wheat, mainly the result of attractive prices to farmers. Sowing has started in some of the producing areas; however, the outlook is uncertain as the rains have stopped and sowing operations consequently interrupted. By end-May, some 15 to 20 days only were left as appropriate timing for planting. The lack of available water is severe in some of the affected areas, such as the departments of Alto Paraguay, Boquerón and Presidente Hayes in the west, where relief assistance is being provided by international organizations.