TUNISIA (19 February)
Above-normal rains in January were registered all over the country with localized flooding in the northern parts. Maximum water reservoir levels are reported. Planting of the winter cereals (wheat and barley) has been completed and the state of the crops is reported to be good. Higher than normal yields are anticipated and a significant recovery from last year’s poor crop is forecast. Aggregate cereal production in 2002 was a low 515 000 tonnes, which compares to the average of 1.4 million tonnes of the past five years.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2002/03 (July/June) are forecast to be about 1.8 million tonnes, some 500 000 tonnes above the volume imported in 2001/02 (July/June). Imports of barley should be about 600 000 tonnes, about similar to the previous year’s volume.