FDBusiness.com

World wheat production this year will be 676 million tonnes, representing a growth of 3.4% from 2010, but still below the bumper harvests in 2008 and 2009, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s first forecast for 2011. Wheat plantings in many countries have increased or are expected to increase this year in response to strong prices, while yield recoveries are forecast in areas that were affected by drought in 2010, particularly the Russian Federation.

As the bulk of the world’s coarse grains and paddy crops are yet to be planted, it is, however, too early for the FAO to forecast total cereal production for this year.

Looking back to last year’s production, the FAO notes that in the low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) as a group, the 2010 cereal output rose by 5.6%, a development that will result in reduced cereal imports in the 2010/11marketing years. But this will not necessarily spell much relief for these countries as their overall cereal import bill is estimated to increase by 20% because of higher international prices.

However, the need for food assistance persists in many areas, the FAO reports, with 29 countries currently requiring external assistance for food. Of these, 21 countries are in Africa and seven in Asia, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The displacement of large numbers of people in North Africa because of recent political events in that region also has made emergency assistance necessary.