DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (8 February)
Harvesting of the second season coarse grain and bean crops is under way. The aggregate paddy production in 2004 (main and second season crops) is tentatively estimated at 580 000 tonnes, about 10 percent below previous year output. This reflects the negative impact of the abundant rains that affected the main season paddy crop during both planting, in South-West and North-East provinces in May and harvesting, in the north-eastern area of Bajo Yuna in mid-September. Recent flooding in north-eastern key producing area of Bajo Yuna has also caused some delay in planting of 2005 main spring paddy crop.
In marketing year 2004/05 (July/June), imports of wheat and maize (mostly yellow maize for the animal feed industry) are expected to be 330 000 tonnes and 900 000 tonnes respectively, similar to those of the previous year.