FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Prospects for 2015 main rice season uncertain
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Cereal imports are forecast to increase in 2014/15 marketing year
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Rice prices rise sharply in March, maize prices increase for a third month
Prospects for 2015 main rice season uncertain
Harvesting of the 2015 main season rice crop is about to begin. Preliminary forecasts point to a recovery in production from last year’s reduced level, mainly reflecting larger plantings. However, this forecast might not materialize as low precipitations since late December 2014 might have significantly affected yields. The 2015 maize forecast points to a slight reduction from last year’s high level, as the main first season, to be harvested from late June and accounting for 90 percent of production, was also impacted by dry weather which might affect yields. In aggregate, FAO’s forecast for the 2015 cereal production points to an output of almost 2.6 million tonnes, unchanged from last year’s level but still above the country’s five-year average.