MOROCCO (3 June)
Following abundant rains that improved crop conditions in main producing areas in late February/early March, a dry spell through May resulted in losses of over a third of area planted to wheat and barley, with another third seriously affected, according to official sources. Cumulative rainfall as of late April was below average in almost all regions of the country, with an estimated shortfall of about 32 percent compared to the average. As a consequence, production is expected to be sharply reduced. Initial indications point to wheat output in 2005 at some 2.52 million tonnes, about 45 percent of the bumper crop harvested last year, while barley production is estimated at 1.05 million tonnes, about 38 percent of last year’s output.
Cereal imports in 2005/06 (July/June) are forecast to increase substantially, to 3 million tonnes of wheat and 1.6 million tonnes of coarse grains, mainly barley and maize.