TUNISIA (20 May)
Harvesting of the 2005 winter crops is underway. Despite overall favourable weather conditions in the North, which is the main cereal producing area, initial indications point to a significant drop in output, due to a decrease in area planted combined with poorly distributed rainfall in the South and the Centre. Total cereal production is tentatively put at 1.9 million tonnes, compared to 2.347 million tonnes in 2004. Wheat output at about 1.397 million tonnes is almost 19 percent below last year while the barley crop is estimated at 500 000 tonnes, a 19 percent reduction.
Imports of cereals in 2005/06 (July/June), mostly wheat and maize, are forecast at 2.23 million tonnes, about 458 000 tonnes more than in the previous year.