Planting of the main 2002 wheat and coarse grains crops is due to start in May. Early official forecasts indicate a marginal increase in wheat production to almost 24 million tonnes from 23.8 million tonnes in 2001. This very tentative forecast is based on the expectation of a 2 percent increase in area and an assumption of average seasonal weather conditions, leading to slightly lower yields than in the previous year. By contrast, the area sown to winter barley (the main coarse grain crop) is forecast to decrease by about 2 percent after last year’s record crop. Harvest of the bulk of the minor 2002 summer coarse grains crops, mainly sorghum and maize, will start soon. Output of sorghum is forecast to fall by about 13 percent to 1.8 million tonnes as a result of a decrease in plantings and the adverse effect of hot dry conditions during January in some parts.
Sanitary measures are still in force to contain the spread of the fruit fly in the main island of Rarotonga. The insect is considered one of the most destructive pests of fruit and vegetables. The presence of the fruit fly was initially discovered in late November, but a new discovery in early February, the first in the previous four weeks, poses a new threat to the island’s food crops.
Heavy rains and flooding, particularly in the northwestern parts of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island, at the end of February, caused extensive damage to rural infrastructure and coastal sea walls. The rains also affected the agricultural sector. Some 15 000 tonnes of sugar cane are reported to be damaged, which represents about 5 per cent of the annual crop estimate. Serious damage was also incurred to cassava plantations and vegetables. About 2 000 rural families are considered affected by the disaster.
Relief assistance, including food supplies and construction materials, continues to arrive in Tonga’s small island of Vava’u, following the destruction caused by cyclone “Waka” in early January. Besides the enormous damage to rural infrastructure and housing, most of the island’s foodcrops were destroyed by the storm.