JORDAN (23 September)
Aggregate wheat and barley output in 2003 has been forecast at 147 000 tonnes, about 20 percent above last year’s crop, mainly as a result of favourable rainfall. Domestic cereal production normally meets only a small proportion of consumption requirements, the rest being covered by imports. Imports of wheat in 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast at 840 000 tonnes, similar to 2002/03. Coarse grain imports are forecast at 900 000 tonnes, about 12 percent higher than last year.