FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Preliminary production estimates indicate above-average cereal production in 2011, despite erratic precipitation in parts of the country
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Inflation remains generally stable but access to food is constrained by rising food prices in the North
Despite erratic rains in parts, a good cereal harvest in prospect in 2011.
Harvesting of the 2011 second season maize crop is nearly complete in the South. In the North, which has only one rainy season, harvesting of coarse grains was completed in December. In spite of erratic precipitation in parts of the country, official preliminary estimates indicate that cereal production was similar to the previous year’s above-average level of 2.9 million tonnes. Maize and sorghum production are estimated at about 1.9 million and 330 000 tonnes, respectively, representing a slight increase over 2010 level. The continuation of Government assistance, in the form of subsidized fertilisers and increased technical support for large-scale farming, supported crop development throughout the season.