INDIA (10 October)
Sowing for the Kharif crop for harvesting in 2006 is complete. The late arrival of monsoon negatively affected planting, but subsequent rains helped crop survival in most regions. Acreage of rice, sugarcane, and sunflower is estimated to be larger than last year, while that of coarse grains and soybean is smaller.
The latest estimates of the 2005 wheat crop, harvested in May, indicate an output of 72 million tonnes, virtually unchanged from the previous year. Output of 2005 paddy is tentatively estimated at 129 million tonnes, some 1 percent above that of last year; while output of 2005 maize is forecast at 14.5 million tonnes, 6.6 percent up from the previous year, as a result of larger sown area and increased use of hybrid seeds.
India is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat and rice. The cereal export level in 2004/05 is estimated at some 6 million tonnes, which is forecast down to 3.6 million tonnes in 2005/06, reflecting tight grain stocks.
The severe floods in July killed more than 1 000 people, especially in the commercial city of Mumbai (Bombay), affected up to 20 million people. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on 8 October 2005 and severely affected Pakistan and India. The death toll in India has been estimated at more than 1 600 people. Up to 50 000 people have been left homeless by the earthquake.