EGYPT (19 February)
Planting of the 2003 wheat and barley crops has been completed under normal weather conditions, while land is being prepared for maize and paddy planting from April. The area planted to wheat has increased slightly from 2002 average level, largely as a consequence of the government’s efforts to help increase production by means of an incentive programme to producers. Aggregate cereal production in 2002 was a high 20.3 million tonnes, which compares to 19.3 million tonnes in 2001 and the average of 18.9 million tonnes in the past 5 years. An above-average wheat output was collected in 2002 while production of paddy increased by more than 11 per cent compared to the average. Early prospects for the 2003 crops are good assuming normal conditions persist.
Wheat imports in 2002/03 (July/June) are expected to decrease to about 6.3 million tonnes from the 6.8 million tonnes imported in 2001/02. Maize imports are forecast to increase slightly from the previous year’s level.