FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/01 - ALGERIA (15 November)
Heavy rains in early November have resulted in heavy flooding, particularly in urban areas where a large number of casualties is reported as well as significant damage to housing and infrastructure. The abundant rains arrived after weeks of dry weather which had delayed planting of the winter cereal crops for harvesting in the spring/summer of 2002. The 2001 aggregate cereal output is estimated at 2.6 million tonnes compared to 0.9 million tonnes harvested in 2000 and to the past 5-year average of 2.3 million tonnes. Coarse grain production practically doubled from the previous year, while wheat output was almost three times as much mainly as a consequence of favourable rainfall.
The increase in production is likely to result in lower imports in marketing year 2001/02 (July/June), but the country will still have to import some 4.5 million tonnes of wheat, 650 000 tonnes of barley and about 1.5 million tonnes of maize to meet the strong domestic demand.