Harvesting of the 1997 main cereal and potato crops is underway. Wheat output so far is lower than last year, but the bulk of the crop will be harvested from June. Overall production is expected to be above-average. Harvesting of the maize crop is well advanced and output is provisionally forecast at a near record. Particularly good outturns have been gathered in the northeastern region of Maraņon, the department of San Martin, around Lima and Libertadores in the South. The output of paddy harvested so far has more than doubled that of the previous year which had been collected by this time and a bumper crop is anticipated. Prospects are also good for the potato crop and a bumper crop is expected.