ReliefWeb

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Cereal production in 2017 estimated at above average level

• Cereal imports in 2017/18 marketing year forecast to increase

• Prices of rice and maize were stable in November, prices of beans increased

Cereal production in 2017 estimated at above average level

Cereal production for 2017 is estimated by FAO at 996 000 tonnes, marginally above last year’s level and significantly above the country’s five-year average. The increase reflects a good rice output. Despite significant flooding caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria, between September and October, rice production is estimated at 953 000 tonnes above last year’s level and 6 percent above the five-year average. The high rice output is due to the good main first season rice crop, harvested in August before the storms. Continued Government assistance in the form of provision of high yielding variaties and fertilizers also contributed to the increase in production. Maize ouput is estimated virtually unchanged from 2016 at 41 000 tonnes and about average. Due to uncertainty about this year’s weather, after two years of continuous droughts, farmers marginally reduced the planted area.

Cereal imports in 2017/18 marketing year forecast to increase

Cereal imports in the 2017/18 marketing year (July/June) are forecast to increase from last year and reach close to 1.7 million tonnes. Maize imports, which account for almost 70 percent of all cereal imports, are expected to increase by 1 percent to 1.1 million tonnes, mainly as a result of high demand from the feed sector.

Prices of rice and maize stable in November, prices of beans increased

Prices of rice in November were unchanged and about 2 percent above year-earlier levels reflecting seasonal trends. Prices of maize were also stable in November and less than 3 percent above year-earlier levels pressured by seasonal factors and high demand from the feed sector. Prices of red and black beans increased in November and were above year-earlier levels, as seasonal trends strengthened by a reduction in 2017 output of beans.