Planting of the 1997 winter wheat and sorghum crops has been completed under dry weather which is attributed to the early effects of “El Niño”. Preliminary forecasts indicate that wheat production for the whole year should increase from 92 000 tons in 1996 to an average 108 000 tons. Maize output is provisionally estimated at a record 700 000 tons while a near record barley outturn is also anticipated. By contrast, the sorghum crop has been affected by dry weather and only 31 000 hectares compared to last year’s 55 000 hectares have been sown. Production of potatoes should be a satisfactory 1 million tons.
Planting of the 1998 main season cereal crops will be near completion by the end of the present year, which would coincide with the expected strongest impact of “El Niño” and therefore the crops may be affected by forecast dry weather.
Wheat imports in marketing year 1997/98 (July/June) are expected to increase from the previous year receipts of 330 000 tons to about 375 000 tons, reflecting a continuing strong domestic demand.