TUNISIA (7 October)
Harvesting of the 2005 winter crops has been completed. Output is estimated to drop significantly despite overall favourable weather conditions in the North, which is the main cereal producing area, due to a decrease in area planted combined with poorly distributed rainfall in the South and the Centre. Total cereal production is estimated at 2.09 million tonnes, compared to 2.347 million tonnes in 2004. Wheat output at about 1.627 million tonnes is about 5 percent below last year while the barley crop is estimated at 465 000 tonnes, a 24 percent reduction.
Imports of cereals in 2005/06 (July/June), mostly wheat and maize, are forecast at 2 million tonnes, about 58 000 tonnes less than in the last marketing year.