FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 01/00 - ECUADOR (3 February)
Planting of the 2000 first season cereal crops is underway. Generally dry weather conditions have been registered in January and the only rains reported have been in the Andean highlands, where most of the wheat crop is grown, but precipitation has been scarce and irregular. Intended plantings of maize are provisionally forecast to decline from the 1999 average level The outlook is also poor for the area planted to paddy, which is expected to decline from the 1999 average level. This is mainly the result of credit constraints and the high cost of agricultural inputs, largely caused by the serious economic crisis affecting the country. Imports of rice are expected to increase considerable in order to fill the anticipated decline in production.
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