FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• 2012 rice production forecast to increase from last year

• Imports to remain at high levels in 2012/13

2012 rice production forecast to increase from last year

Sowing of the 2012 main season rice crop is underway, under generally favourable weather conditions. Production is forecast at 510 000 tonnes, up by 11 percent on the 2011 levels, following a series of policy measures to increase rice production and reduce imports. In May this year, the Government announced an investment of USD 450 million on agricultural inputs and equipment for the next five years, starting with USD 108 million in 2012. The increase forecast in rice output also reflects greater private-sector cultivation of previously unused land. In addition, the area planted under the Vietnam-Cuba cooperation project to develop rice production (2010-2015) is set to rise to about 30 000 hectares from 7 600 hectares last year, following the good results obtained in 2011, with average yields of 4.7 tonnes per hectare against the national average of 2.6 tonnes per hectare.

Imports to remain at high levels in 2012/13

The country normally imports some three-quarters of its consumption requirements of cereals, mainly wheat which is not produced domestically, and rice. In 2012/13 marketing year imports of rice and wheat are forecast at average levels of 500 000 tonnes and 800 000 tonnes respectively.

Cholera cases reported in parts

A cholera outbreak has killed three people and more than 80 people were infected in the past two weeks in the south-eastern province of Granma, with some cases confirmed elsewhere in the country. The Government is providing preventative treatment to about 1 000 people in an effort to contain the spread of cases.