LEBANON (1 May)
The 2004 wheat and barley crops, now being harvested, are expected to be about 125 000 tonnes, slightly below last year. The country depends heavily on imports (more than 80 percent) to meet demand for cereals.
Imports of cereals - mainly wheat - in 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast at some 780 000 tonnes, slightly above the previous year.