Widespread light to moderate rainfall was received in October and provided sufficient moisture for land preparation and may have prompted some early planting of the winter grain. Light rains with excess in some localized areas continued in November, maintaining enough topsoil moisture for winter grain emergence and establishment. Sowing of the 1998 wheat and barley crops continues until mid-January, but most of the crop is usually planted from mid-November to mid-December.
Production of cereals in 1997, estimated at 1.1 million tons, was drastically reduced by shortage of rainfall which halved the total area sown to cereals last season. Only about 1 million hectares, representing half of the cropped land was sown, due to severe drought.
Imports of wheat and barley in 1997/98 are forecast at 1.2 million tons and 300 000 tons respectively.