Weather conditions in October favoured fieldwork activities in preparation for planting of the 1997/98 main season cereal and potato crops. Intended wheat plantings should be close to last year’s above-average level. The area planted to maize, the main cereal, as well as sorghum, is provisionally forecast at near record levels. Planting of the important potato crop is also anticipated to be satisfactory. No serious damage has so far been reported due to El Niño, as the bulk of the 1997 crops had been gathered before the El Niño impact started to be felt. Localized damage was reported in September, however, when torrential rains and flooding affected the southwestern department of Sucre.
Wheat imports in marketing year 1997/98 are provisionally forecast to increase from last year’s receipts of 330 000 tons to 375 000 tons.