HAITI* (31 May)
Late arrival of first seasonal rains caused a substantial delay in planting operations of the main 2005 season to be harvested by June-July. The departments of South, South East and Central Plateau have registered a delay of about two months. In the departments of North, North-East and the Artibonite valley and the coastal areas of South, maize, sorghum, rice and bean crops of 2004/05 second season have been affected by a severe dry spell that lasted from November 2004 to March 2005. Aggregate maize production for marketing year 2004/05 (July/June) is estimated at 220 000 tonnes, 11 percent more than the previous year. Tubers production should however witness a slight increase. Paddy production continues its declining trend due to the reduction in planted areas and yields as a consequence of the increasing problems in the Artibonite Department with the drainage and the insufficient maintenance of the irrigation infrastructures. Paddy production in 2004 is estimated at low 96 000 tonnes. Import requirements for marketing year 2005/06 (July/June) are about 250 000 tonnes of wheat and 260 000 tonnes of rice. Despite the problems due to the uncertainty of the security environment, the international community continues to deliver food aid to vulnerable groups, health centres and schools in several western, northern and central departments.