FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Generally good rains benefited the 2012 winter cereal crops
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The 2011 aggregate cereal production is estimated to be above average
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Relatively high inflation despite stable wheat and rice prices
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Food insecurity persists in certain districts
2012 winter cereal crops benefit from good rains
Harvesting of the 2012 winter season crops, mainly wheat, barley and buckwheat, is currently underway and will continue until the end of July. Planting of the 2012 maize was completed in March, while that of rice and millet commenced in May and will continue into August. Rains have been generally good across the country since the start of the season. However, judging from satellite imagery, below-average rains were received during the third dekad of April to second dekad of June. As a result, maize yields are likely to be negatively affected by the prolonged dry weather.
The 2012 wheat production is estimated to be slightly higher than last season, mainly due to favourable weather during the growing period.
The 2011 total cereal harvest is estimated to be above average
Cereal harvest for 2011 is estimated at 176 000 tonnes, including rice in paddy terms, an increase of 16 percent over the below-average 2010 harvest. Rice is the main staple food in the country. The average per capita rice consumption is estimated at 172 kg/year in 2011.
Imports consist mainly of rice and maize, which are acquired on commercial basis from neighbouring countries. The total cereal import requirements in the 2012/13 marketing year (July/June) are forecast to increase slightly by about 3 percent from last year’s level in response to lower maize production prospects in 2012.