Stormy weather in mid-September has caused some damage to housing and infrastructure in various parts of the country. By contrast, normal rains in the last few weeks of August favoured the development of the 2002/03 first season maize, currently being harvested. Some isolated areas in the departments of Choluteca, Valle, El Paraiso and Francisco Morazán, mostly in the south and central parts of the country, have been affected by the annual recurrent dry spell “canicula” and damage to crops is reported. Food assistance from the international community is being distributed to the affected small farmers. Despite incurred losses, production of maize should be about average. Planting of the sorghum crop is underway and the area planted is provisionally estimated at an average level. Maize imports, largely for the animal feed industry, in marketing year 2002/03 (July/June) are tentatively forecast at some 240 000 tonnes, slightly more than the previous year.