VENEZUELA (18 September)
Although some dry weather was reported in the first half of the month in some coastal areas, the country as a whole has received above-normal rains for the past three months, resulting in land- and mudslides in various Andean States, causing severe damage to rural housing and infrastructure. Harvest of the 2003 coarse-grain crops has recently started. Early forecasts point to below-average maize and sorghum outputs, largely because of lack of fertilizers and quality seeds. This situation is due to a number of financial constraints imposed on farmers resulting from the difficult economic situation within the country. The harvest of the important irrigated paddy crop is under way.