This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the International Seminar on Producing and Exporting Organic Fruit and Vegetables in Asia that was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2003. It describes the market situation and outlook for organic horticultural products, the opportunities offered by the main import markets (North America, the European Union and Japan) and their import requirements. The publication examines the ways in which...

Measuring the impacts of import surges is a difficult task, but simple case studies illustrate some of the fundamental issues. From the two case studies examined in this paper, it was found that the impacts vary markedly in different settings and for different commodities. Thus, for example, while the negative impact on Senegal’s broiler industry came out clearly, import surges were not an issue in the case of dairy products....

This report is meant to contribute to the continuing debate related to small states and their agriculture sectors in the multilateral trade framework. It looks at the specific challenges faced by small states and the importance of non-reciprocal preferences. It is felt that a clearer understanding of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) agricultural economies and trade and the often obscure effects of trade preferences on SIDS economic development is vital...

This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the International Seminar on Producing and Exporting Organic Fruit and Vegetables in Asia that was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2003. It describes the market situation and outlook for organic horticultural products, the opportunities offered by the main import markets (North America, the European Union and Japan) and their import requirements. The publication examines the ways in which...

Sri Lanka, especially in the dry-zone areas, has experienced a prolonged drought stemming from reduced rainfall levels since the beginning of the 2003/04 Maha season from September 2003. Following a request of the Government of Sri Lanka, a FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited the country from 7 to 24 March 2004 to assess the 2003/04 Maha harvest and to forecast 2004 Yala production in order to...

World cereal output in 2004 is estimated by FAO at a record 2 042 million tonnes, substantially more than the forecast in September and 8.4 percent up from 2003. Cereal production is forecast to exceed utilization in 2004/05, which would lead to an increase in stocks for the first time in five years. World cereal utilization in 2004/05 is forecast to rise by 2.4 percent from the previous season. Most of...

An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited DPR Korea from 28 September to 9 October to assess the 2004 main-crop harvest, forecast 2005 production of winter and spring crops (wheat, barley and potatoes) and estimate cereal import requirements for the 2004/05 marketing year (November/October), including food-aid needs.

A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM), visited Afghanistan between 8 July and 7 August 2004, to estimate the 2004 cereal harvest and forecast cereal import requirements for the 2004/05 (July/June) marketing year. The mission was requested by the Government of Afghanistan following reports of widespread crop failures due to drought in most of the country except the Northern provinces. The CFSAM was preceded by an inter-ministerial...

FAO’s latest forecast for world cereal output in 2004 has been raised by 29 million tonnes since the previous report to 1 985 million tonnes, which puts it on par with the expected utilization in 2004/05. This will avert the need for another major drawdown in global cereal stocks after sharp declines in the past four years. World cereal utilization in 2004/05 is forecast at 1 985 million tonnes, 1.4...