Prospects for global cereal production in 2011 have improved since September, following better expectations for rice and wheat. At the expected record level of 2 310 million tonnes, world cereal production would be 3 percent, or 68 million tonnes, above the reduced 2010 level.
In September, international prices of all cereals with the exception of rice fell sharply, triggered by global economic slowdown and the strengthening of the US dollar as well as large export supplies from the Black Sea region. The expected slower recovery in the world economy will bring more uncertainty to the food security situation.
The aggregate cereal imports of LIFDCs in the 2011/12 are estimated to increase after declining for the previous two years.
In Eastern Africa, the drought-induced humanitarian crisis, especially in famine ravaged southern Somalia, continues to claim lives and decimate livestock. Furthermore, the outlook in the drought affected pastoralist areas remains grim as the lean season progresses. However, the forecast for improved October to December rains in most of the eastern Horn and ongoing relief interventions are expected to ameliorate the situation later in the year.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Country: Bangladesh, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Lesotho, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Thailand, World, Zimbabwe
