Planting of the winter cereal crops has started under normal weather conditions. In order to assure a successful agricultural campaign in 2003, some incentive measures, particularly credit concessions to farmers, have been adopted by the government. Other measures such as the availability of seeds of drought resistant varieties and fertilizers to farmers are also currently being adopted. Aggregate cereal production in 2002 was a bumper 5.3 million tonnes, 11 per cent over the above-average output collected in 2001. The increase was particularly significant in the production of barley, which went up from about 1.1 million tonnes in 2001 to about 1.7 million tonnes this year. Above-normal and well-distributed rains since April benefited the crops.
Imports of wheat in 2002/03 (July/June) are forecast to decline from 3.0 million tonnes in marketing year 2001/02 (July/June) to 2.95 million tonnes while maize imports are expected to increase from 800 000 tonnes to some 900 000 tonnes. Imports of barley should decline from 700 000 tonnes to 500 000 tonnes.