ALBANIA (16 September)
Although recent years have witnessed a downward trend in basic cereal production, this year’s output has likely shrunk beyond expectation because of drought and high temperatures. The aggregate cereal crop will probably be no more than 500 000 tonnes, compared to an average of about 700 000 tonnes during the nineties. In the absence of significant carryover stocks, the country will continue to rely on significant imports to meet its consumption requirements in 2003/04. WFP continues to assist vulnerable groups of food-insecure people (totalling 63 000 persons) in the country, with a Protracted Relief and Rehabilitation project due to run through December 2003.