HAITI* (20 August) Harvesting of the 1996 first season maize and sorghum crops has been completed, while planting of the second season sorghum crop has been initiated. Early predictions indicate that aggregate coarse grain output for the whole year should be about 290 000 tons, compared to last year’s average 297 000 tons. Planting of the second season irrigated paddy crop has started. Aggregate output is forecast to be close to the 1995 below average 80 000 tons.

Wheat imports in marketing year 1996/97 (July/June) are forecast to be 250 000 tons, similar to last year’s receipts, while maize imports are expected to decrease from 30 000 tons to some 25 000 tons. Rice imports in 1996 (January/December) are anticipated to be about 100 000 tons.