(Extract)

Wheat and rice prices mostly fall around the region

Strong production generally kept domestic prices around the region stable or drove them slightly down for wheat, wheat flour and rice, except in India and Myanmar where government procurement programmes pushed prices higher. Overall, however, prices were mostly higher than at the same time last year, according to FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

HIGHLIGHTS

• FAO’s first forecast for world wheat production in 2013 stands at 690 million tonnes, about 28 million tonnes up from 2012 and the second largest crop on record. The increase is expected mostly in Europe, driven by an expansion in area in response to high prices, and in some countries due to an expected recovery in yields from last year’s below-average levels.

• The international cereal prices in recent months have followed mixed trends with rice prices rising and wheat declining, while maize prices remaining generally steady.

Core Messages:

In January Early Warning Information Working Group meeting, FEWS-NET, ACF, OCHA, FAO and WFP were in participation. A details report of Agromet is attached to this bulletin.

Climate:

Temperatures:

• From mid December to now temperatures have been averaged below normal which negatively affected IDPs. In the meantime, it helped snow accumulation. In the coming week the temperature will shift back to above normal.

Precipitation:

Typhoon Bopha hits Philippines banana harvest hard

About one quarter of the banana crop in the Philippines, a major food export for that country, has been destroyed by Typhoon Bopha, according to early damage assessments. Furthermore, banana growers fear the storm may have served to spread “Panama Disease,” which has been described by some researchers as “one of the most destructive plant diseases in modern times.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Firmer production estimates for 2012 confirm tightening wheat and maize supplies while the outlook for rice remains positive. In spite of a contraction in overall cereal utilization in 2012/13, the world cereal stock-to-use ratio is projected to decline by 2 percentage points from the previous season.

Link: Desert Locust Bulletin No. 410 (3 Dec 2012)

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Bumper wheat harvest gathered in 2012

• High wheat prices together with high levels of inflation remain

• Food security situation improves but vulnerable groups in parts still a concern

La situation relative au Criquet pèlerin est restée préoccupante en octobre avec la formation de bandes larvaires de deuxieme génération au Niger et au Tchad et celles de petits essaims au Tchad. La situation est probablement similare dans le nord du Mali mais cela n'a pas pu etre confirmé en raison de l'insécurié.

The Desert Locust situation remained serious during October as second-generation hoppers formed bands in Niger and Chad, and adults formed small swarms in Chad. A similar situation is likely in northern Mali but could not be confirmed due to insecurity.