Normal rains in October across most of the country benefited the developing 1997 maize crop, currently being harvested, and planting of the 1997/98 paddy crop. Early forecasts indicate that maize output should be at an above-average 1.1 million tons, which compares to 1 million tons in 1996. Production of sorghum, by contrast, is expected to decrease from 440 000 tons to 250 000 tons, mainly because of farmers’ decisions to reduce plantings as a consequence of the strong import competition. The intended area to paddy is provisionally forecast to remain close to the previous year’s average level.
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES