ISRAEL (11 February)
Early prospects for the 2004 wheat and barley crops, to be harvested beginning in April, are favourable so far, reflecting improved precipitation. Domestic production of wheat in normal years covers less than one-fifth of the country’s total requirement, while the rest is commercially imported. Aggregate production of wheat and barley in 2003 – estimated at 176 000 tonnes – was slightly lower than in the previous year. Imports of cereals in 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast at about 2.9 million tonnes.