YEMEN (11 February)
Land preparation for the sowing of the main sorghum and millet crops to be harvested towards the end of the year is about to start. The output from the 2004 sorghum crop is estimated at some 250 000 tonnes, more than 20 percent below last year and the average of the previous five years. Output from the wheat crop also decreased to 98 000 tonnes from 104 000 the previous year. Maize production estimated at 32 000 tonnes was similar to the previous year but was 27 percent below the average.
Imports of cereals in 2004 - mainly wheat - are estimated at 2.6 million tonnes, about 4 percent higher than the previous year, while an increase is forecast in 2005.