MOROCCO (21 February)
Reflecting widespread above normal rainfall from the beginning of the growing season, crop development is progressing satisfactorily and the prospects for the 2004 crop to be harvested from May are generally favourable. Assuming normal weather for the rest of the growing season, cereal production in 2004, mostly wheat and barley, is likely to be similar to the bumper crop of 7.96 million tonnes harvested last year. Production of wheat and barley in 2003 both increased by more than 50 percent to 5.15 million tonnes and 2.62 million tonnes, respectively.
Aerial and ground control operations are underway in south-western areas against desert locust hopper bands.
Reflecting the bumper 2003 cereal harvest, imports of cereals in the marketing year 2003/2004 (July/June) are forecast at about 2.2 million tonnes, a reduction of nearly 2 million tonnes compared to the previous year.