Planting of spring grains (maize) is underway. The area is expected to increase. Food production, notably output of milk, eggs, maize, potatoes and vegetables, is increasing steadily, wheat production, however, is contracting steadily in response to the poor profitability of winter wheat in upland areas and ample availability of imported supplies, the 1998 wheat harvest is expected to decline further. The area sown to winter grains (wheat) declined. 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. Wheat remains an important staple and the 1997/98 cereal imports are estimated at around 275 000 tonnes, mostly for the deficit BiH Federation.