The output from the recently harvested wheat crop, almost entirely irrigated, is estimated at about 5.5 million tons, some 4 percent less than last year. Despite favourable weather conditions until April, strong dust storms and high temperatures at the end of the growing season adversely affected yields.
Imports of wheat and wheat flour in 1997/98 (July/June) are forecast to decline slightly to 6.2 million tons. Coarse grains imports, (virtually maize only) are forecast to remain at last year’s level of 2.7 million tons.