BOLIVIA (1 October)
Harvesting of the 2004/05 winter cereal crops is well advanced in tropical areas of the Departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca and yields are expected to be above last five-year average of 1 tonne per hectare. At the same time, land is being prepared for the planting of the second-season wheat and maize crops beginning in October/November. In August, dry weather conditions affected maize and beans crops in the Chaco region with negative consequences on food security of local rural families that are receiving food assistance from the international community. Wheat imports in marketing year 2004/05 (July/June) are forecast to remain similar to the level of 250 000 tonnes imported in the previous year.