Planting of the 2003 A season, crops to be harvested from January, is underway. Rains in the third dekad of August and early September provided soil moisture for planting operations, particularly in southern parts.
Final estimates of the 2002 B season food crops indicate an output of 3.353 million tonnes, an increase of 12 percent on the previous year’s same season, reflecting higher plantings and yields. Rains were abundant during the growing season but stopped earlier than normal. This adversely affected yields of beans and production declined from the previous year. By contrast, increased productions of sweet potatoes and cassava were obtained.
Production during the 2002 A season was also good and the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory.