Reflecting ample availability of imported wheat and domestically produced potatoes, and the poor profitability of winter wheat in upland areas, the area sown to winter grains (wheat) has fallen. In BiH, only 43 000 hectares, or 74 percent of the target area, was sown to winter crops. In the Republika Srpska the area sown also fell. By contrast, spring maize plantings are likely to increase. Wheat remains an important staple and the 1997/98 cereal import requirement is estimated at around 275 000 tonnes, mostly for the deficit BiH Federation.