FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - BRAZIL (7 June)
Increasing soil moisture due to normal to abundant rains are benefiting planting of the 2002 wheat crop. Considerably enlarged plantings compared to 2001 are reported in the main producing states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sud and Santa Catarina. An early official production forecast points to a well above-average output of 3.8 million tonnes. This is mainly the result of the government’s recent incentive programme for farmers, motivated in part by the likelihood of higher wheat import prices (about 7.2 million tonnes of wheat imports are anticipated in 2002). Recent rains extending from Rio Grande do Sud to southern Parana have helped improve growing conditions of the second season maize crop (“zafrinha”), previously affected by weeks of dry weather. The dry weather, by contrast, favoured harvesting operations in the more northerly maize growing areas, where harvesting of the second season crop had already started. A bumper second season maize crop is anticipated. Aggregate maize output in 2002 is provisionally estimated at an above-average 36 million tonnes. This is principally due to increased plantings of almost 29 per cent with respect to last year. Harvesting of the 2002 paddy crop has been completed and a high above-average crop of 11.0 million tonnes is provisionally estimated.