BOLIVIA (26 September)
From the beginning of September, low temperatures and snowstorms are severely affecting livestock and pastures in South-West highlands. However, damages to major staple food such as maize and rice are likely to be limited because harvesting operations in this area are well advanced. Some losses of the quinoa crop have been reported in some communities of the Nor and Sud Lipez provinces in the department of Potosí. In August, the departments of Beni, Pando and the north of Santa Cruz have been affected by severe dry weather conditions that have caused the loss of about 15 000 head of cattle. Fed by the drought and high winds, a massive fire on 23 September destroyed about 150 000 hectares of tropical forest in the departments of Beni and Pando close to the border with Brazil.
Harvesting of 2005 second season (winter) cereal crops is virtually completed and land is being prepared for the planting of 2005/06 first season (summer) coarse grains, essentially maize, that will be harvested from next March. Planning of 2005/06 paddy crop has just started in tropical areas of the Eastern lowlands of Santa Cruz department, while planting of the important winter potato crop has started in the highland valleys. Total production of wheat in 2005 is forecast at 102 000 tonnes, well above last two years’ output that was affected by dry weather conditions. By contrast, 2005 maize crop production is estimated at about 600 000 tonnes, slightly below the last five years average.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2005/06 (July/June) are forecast to remain similar to the level of about 400 000 tonnes imported in the previous year.