BOLIVIA (9 February)
Persistent heavy rains during January resulted in floods and landslides in several areas of the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Beni and Pando causing serious damage to housing and infrastructure. The international community is providing emergency food aid to the people affected in the city of Trinidad and the department of Cochabamba. However, the abundant rains benefited developing cereal crops, previously stressed by severe dry weather in December 2003. Crops and pastures are currently reported in good conditions. Provided goodweather persists in the remaining of the growing season, a good 2004 first season grain crops (wheat, maize and rice) are expected to be harvested from April.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are forecast at 250 000 tonnes, similar to the previous year’s volume.