Harvesting of the 2000/01 first (main) season cereal and bean crops is underway. Weather conditions are reported normal and maize output is anticipated to be average assuming present weather conditions persist. The outlook is also good for the bean crop, although output from the first season crop represents 10 to 15 per cent only of total annual production. A slightly above-average paddy output is forecast.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) should be close to the previous year's 195 000 tonnes. Maize imports (July/June) should be also closely similar to last year's 300 000 tonnes, and mostly yellow in response to the consistent demand from the animal feed industry. Rice imports in 2001 marketing year (January/December) are forecast to be about 90 000 tonnes, also similar to the previous year.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season maize and irrigated paddy crops are underway. Rains during the month of August were reported normal in most parts of the country, but moisture deficits are still registered in the eastern provinces. The situation needs to be closely monitored as a consequence of the prolonged dry weather that has been affecting these areas, particularly the provinces of Las Tunas, Granma and Santiago de Cuba. Some important moisture deficits are also localized in the south-eastern parts of the province of Camaguey. Despite the normal to abundant rains reported in the last three months these were not enough to restore normal moisture levels. Technical rehabilitation projects in collaboration with the Government, in an effort to counteract the impact of the drought, are being implemented in the most affected provinces.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) are forecast to be similar to the previous year's volume of some 900 000 tonnes. Yellow maize imports (July/June) are expected to be about 270 000 tonnes, also close to the previous year. Rice imports in marketing year 2001 (January/December) should still be about 400 000 tonnes, similar to marketing year 2000, despite an anticipated improved production. This is in order to meet the strong domestic demand for this important staple.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (11 September)
f Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal crops has been recently completed under normal weather conditions. Slightly above-average maize and sorghum outputs have been collected, reflecting the consistent demand from the poultry and swine feed industry. Production from the irrigated paddy crop is provisionally estimated at an about average 500 000 tonnes. Average outputs from other important foodcrops, such as roots and plantains, have also been gathered.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) should be about 270 000 tonnes, slightly below the previous year. Maize imports, mostly yellow, are also expected to remain close to the previous year's level of some 700 000 tonnes. Rice imports in year 2001 (January/December) are early forecast at about 70 000 tonnes.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal and bean crops continues under normal weather conditions, following an unusually long dry summer spell ("canicula") in July which severely affected the crops in some areas. Particularly affected were the eastern parts of the country, the Department of Santa Ana in the north-west, some areas in the south-western Departments of Ahuachap�n and Sonsonate and the western part of the Department of Chalatenango in the north. Production of maize, the main cereal, is thus provisionally forecast at a slightly below average 570 000 tonnes, while that of sorghum is expected at a below-average 145 000 tonnes. By contrast, production of beans, an important staple in the population's diet, is forecast to be average as the bulk of the crop had already been harvested in the main producing areas and the remaining plantings were not affected by the drought. Some localized damage is reported to the paddy crop, but output is nevertheless forecast to be about average. Food assistance, as a component of various reconstruction projects (food for work) is still being distributed in some areas, following hurricane "Mitch" devastating impact at the end of 1998.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) are anticipated to be about 180 000 tonnes, similar to the previous year. Maize imports are forecast to increase from 175 000 tonnes to some 245 000 tonnes to compensate for the drought inflicted production losses. Imports of rice in 2001 marketing year (January/December) should be about 20 000 tonnes, similar to 2000.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal and bean crops continues under normal weather conditions. The country has been only slightly affected by the severe dry spell ("can�cula") which has hit most of the Central American countries and only localized losses in areas along the Pacific coast are reported. Average maize and sorghum outputs are thus anticipated. Production of paddy is forecast to be above average. Food assistance continues to be distributed through reconstruction projects (food for work) following the passage of hurricane "Mitch".
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (November/October) are forecast to increase from the previous year's 380 000 tonnes to some 390 000 tonnes, while maize imports should remain closely similar to last year's volume of 550 000 tonnes. Rice imports in marketing year 2001 (January/December) are expected to be about 30 000 tonnes, similar to the last two years.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal and bean crops has been completed. The outlook is poor as plantings were delayed and reduced by a severe dry spell which particularly affected large areas of the Central Plateau, the North, the North-east, the North-west and parts of the Grand 'Anse in the South-west of the country. A detailed assessment of the damage has not been made available, but losses in maize and sorghum production are provisionally estimated at about 30 percent of last year's average output levels. The bean crop grown in the mountains of the North is also reported to have greatly suffered from the drought. Water reservoirs have been reported at below-average levels thus also affecting the irrigated paddy crop in the main producing area of the Artibonite. Prospects are uncertain for other important foodcrops such as roots and tubers, manioc, and also peanuts. Food assistance from the international community continues to be distributed through development projects to some sectors of the population. By early September, some 8 000 tonnes have been delivered so far against pledges of 60 000 tonnes for the 2000/01 marketing year.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (June/July) are expected to be closely similar to the previous year's 330 000 tonnes, while commercial maize imports are provisionally forecast to increase from 70 000 tonnes to some 75 000 tonnes. Rice imports in marketing year 2001 (January/December) are provisionally forecast at 170 000 tonnes.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal and bean crops is underway. The country has been severely affected by an unusually long dry spell in July ("can�cula") with consequent damage to the developing crops. Localized losses in the amount of 20 percent or more of anticipated grain production are reported in the southern parts of the Department of Lempira, as well as in the southern Departments of Choluteca and Valle, and the Department of Francisco Moraz�n in the center. By contrast, production of beans has been spared of the adverse effect of the drought. Production of maize, the main cereal, is tentatively forecast at about 500 000 tonnes, which compares to the last 5-year average of 590 000 tonnes. Paddy production is also expected to be low. Food assistance from the international community is being distributed to drought affected rural families as well as it continues to be delivered to hurricane "Mitch" affected population.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) are forecast to increase slightly from the previous year's 205 000 tonnes to some 210 000 tonnes. Maize imports are also forecast to increase from 250 000 tonnes to some 280 000 tonnes to compensate for the losses in production. Rice imports in marketing year 2001 (January/December) are provisionally forecast at about 95 000 tonnes.
The country has been struck by a long severe drought earlier in the year which affected some 2 800 hectares of growing important foodcrops, such as roots and tubers, plantains, fruits and vegetables. About 2 500 to 3 000 rural families were seriously affected. The majority of these farmers were left with no seedlings to plant and almost no farm inputs. Emergency rehabilitation projects from the international community to assist the affected small farmers are being prepared in response to the appeal made by the Government.
Land is being prepared for planting, from October, of the 2000/01 irrigated wheat crop in the northwest main growing areas. Generally dry weather prevails but water reservoir levels are considered adequate following normal rains in August and preceding weeks. Harvesting of the 2000 maize crop (spring/summer plantings), the main crop, is due to start from October. Recent light to moderate rains benefited the developing crops along the eastern growing belt, as well as in the important producing southeastern state of Chiapas. However, additional rain is needed particularly in the large producing southwestern areas of the country. Early production forecasts point out to a slightly above-average output, assuming normal rains resume during the rest of the growing period. In the north-east, additional rain is needed for the spring sorghum crop, to be harvested from late October. A slightly above-average output is anticipated, provided normal rains also resume in these areas.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2000/01 (April/March) are expected to be about 2.5 million tonnes, which compares to the previous year's 2.7 millions. Maize imports (October/September) are provisionally forecast at about 4.8 million tonnes, closely similar to the year before.
Harvesting of the 2000/01 first season cereal and bean crops is underway. The country has been affected by an unusually severe summer dry spell ("can�cula") with consequent damage to crops, particularly maize. Preliminary official figures indicate that some 27 000 hectares of maize have been affected in the nation as a whole, which represent about 14 per cent of the total area planted to maize. But localized losses, particularly in Le�n and Madriz in the north, far exceed the latter figure. Serious damage is equally reported for the important bean crop. Some damage to the sorghum crop is also reported. About 2 200 hectares of rainfed paddy were affected, which is the equivalent of some 3 to 4 percent of the area planted to paddy. Below-average coarse grain and bean outputs are thus anticipated, while that of paddy is forecast to be slightly below average. Food assistance from the international community is being distributed to the drought affected population, as well as it continues to be delivered to hurricane "Mitch" victims.
Wheat imports in 2000/01 marketing year (July/June) are forecast to be about 100 000 tonnes, closely similar to the previous year. Maize imports are expected to increase from last year's some 75 000 tonnes in order to help cover production losses.
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