EGYPT (11 February)
The early prospects for the mainly irrigated wheat crop, to be harvested from mid-April, are favourable. The area sown is estimated at some 1.05 million hectares, similar to 2003 average plantings. The area sown to barley, estimated at 47 000 hectares has declined slightly but remains above the average for the previous five years. Land preparation is underway for the sowing of the maize crop from April while the rice crop will be planted in May and harvested from September. Availability of agricultural inputs is reported to be adequate. Aggregate cereal production in 2003 is estimated at 20.66 million tonnes, an increase of some 3 percent compared to the above-average harvest of the previous year. Similar increases are reported for both wheat and maize outputs, estimated at 6.85 million tonnes and 6.54 million tonnes, respectively. Paddy production in 2003 is estimated at 6.18 million tonnes compared to 6 million tonnes harvested in the previous year.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are expected to be about 6.5 million tonnes, some 100 000 tonnes above the relatively high level of imports in the previous year, reflecting the steady domestic demand for this important staple. Maize imports, mainly for feed use, should increase from the previous year’s 5.3 million tonnes to some 5.6 million tonnes in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June).