AFRICA:�In eastern Africa, the overall food situation improved considerably compared to last year. However, a large number of people affected by conflict and/or drought in the sub-region still depend on food assistance. The food situation in Eritrea, Somalia and pastoral areas of Ethiopia and Kenya is of particular concern. In southern Africa,prospects for the 2004 cereal crops are generally unfavourable due to prevailing drought conditions. In western Africa, the food outlook is generally satisfactory except in C�te d�Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where internally displaced people and refugees continue to need food assistance.
ASIA: A food crisis persists in DPR Korea due to chronic food shortages, and food assistance is urgently required. Emergency relief, including food, is being provided to some 100 000 most vulnerable people of earthquake victims in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Emergency assistance is also being provided to the farmers affected by avian influenza virus in several countries. The rice crop has been severely affected by drought in several districts in Sri Lanka. In the Asian CIS, improved precipitation and snow cover have provided favourable conditions for winter crops. In Afghanistan, above-average precipitation and snow cover have improved prospects for the winter cereal crops.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: In Haiti, delivery of food assistance is facing growing difficulties due the escalation of violence and civil unrest, particularly in the Northern department that has also recently been affected by flooding. Food assistance continues to be provided also in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to rural families affected by the severe crisis in the coffee sector. In South America, overall prospects for coarse grain are favourable, but in Ecuador, production of maize and rice may be affected by dry weather at planting time.
EUROPE: A strong recovery in cereal production is expected in the EU in 2004, reflecting better weather after drought last year, favourable price prospects for cereals and a 5 percent reduction in the set-aside requirement. A substantial output recovery is also in prospect among the central and eastern European countries reflecting favourable weather and good price prospects. In the European CIS, despite favourable weather conditions, area planted with winter cereals is below average due to lack of sufficient planting material.
NORTH AMERICA: Latest information points to a reduced wheat output in 2004 in the United States. The winter wheat area has declined while winter weather and crop conditions suggest that the percent of abandonment may be higher and yields lower than average in some major producing regions. The main 2004 crops in Canada have still to be sown but early indications point to a possible increase in output this year due to a further recovery in yields after moisture deficits in the past two years.
OCEANIA: Australia�s 2003 cereal output is estimated at 36.3 million tonnes, sharply up from the previous year�s drought-devastated output. Early prospects for the 2004 summer coarse grain crop (mostly sorghum) are very favourable reflecting good rains in the main producing areas.