FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Favourable prospects for 2010 winter crops.
- Lower cereal imports estimated in 2009/10 due to recovery in
cereal production from the 2008 poor harvest.
Good outlook for 2010 winter cereal crops
Harvesting of 2010 winter wheat and barley crops is expected to start in May. Abundant precipitation since December 2009 has increased soil moisture throughout the country and favoured crops development. In addition, 2010 planted area under wheat increased by 200 000 hectares mainly due to farmers shifting from barley, cotton and sugar beet production. This followed the attractive wheat price offer, almost double the international prices, by the state-owned General Establishment for Cereals Trade and Processing (HOBOOB).
Assuming a positive rainfall situation during the remaining period of the season, especially in the critical grain-filling stage, the early forecast for the 2010 winter wheat and barley crops is put at 4.5 million tonnes and one million tonnes respectively. This compares with 4 million tonnes of wheat and 700 000 tonnes of barley in 2009.