Wheat crops to net 784m tonnes in 2023 - NaijaAgroNet

 ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Early production outlook for 2023 has shown that wheat crops prediction globally is looking at the outturn is anticipated at 784 million tonnes, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) informed that its preliminary forecast for world wheat production in 2023, predicting a global outturn of 784 million tonnes, which would be the second highest on record though down from the previous year.

Wheat harvest improves in Syria

NaijaAgroNet:

Syria is likely to witness an improved wheat harvest this year, says the latest Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM), reports NaijaAgroNet.

CFSAM is a joint effort of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

According to two agencies, food security in parts of Syria is slightly better than the same time last year due to an improved security situation and enhanced access to humanitarian assistance, but the overall situation remains far worse than before the war, two UN agencies warned. 

CFSAM estimates a total wheat production at 1.8 million tonnes - 12 per cent more than last year's record low but still less than half of the pre-conflict ten-year average.

The mission's report released today estimates that 6.9 million Syrians are still food insecure while an additional 5.6 million people are likely to become food insecure without the regular food assistance they receive every month.

Adam Yao, Acting FAO Representative in Syria, said that for some Syrian families, there is a small shaft of light in the darkness, despite the immense challenges, agriculture continues to provide food for the country.

“With the evolving security situation, more farmers are expected to have access to cultivate their land again. Now is the time to step up our support, as agriculture is more important than ever for the livelihoods of many," Yao said.  

For WFP Representative and Country Director in Syria, Jakob Kern, "The small improvement in the availability of food for Syrians is promising, but the needs remain high. More must be done to provide food for families affected by the crisis, WFP and FAO are working together to make food security a reality for the people of Syria."

Access by humanitarian organizations to some besieged areas has improved compared to last year. Yet access continues to be heavily constrained in Deir-ez-Zor, where life-saving air-drops of food and other supplies continue, and in Ar-Raqqa where the situation has become critical due to continued fighting. In Ar-Raqqa, shops are destroyed and the cost of the standard food basket has jumped by 42 percent between May and June this year.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Pix: David Beasley, Executive Director, WFP

Global food prices drop by four per cent in May

A woman removing straw from rice with a broom in 

Kamangu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The global food prices have dropped sharply to four per cent in May as a result of the generally favourable supplies and strengthening of the United States (US) dollar.

The May edition of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisaiton Food (FAO) Price Index shows a sharp drop in international prices of food commodities by four per cent.

FAO informed NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that May food prices dropped to 204 points from 213, which is, 9 points down from April and the lowest level since September 2011; about 14 per cent below its peak in February 2011.

Abdolreza Abbassian, a grain analyst at FAO said crop prices have come down sharply from their peak level but still remain high and vulnerable due to risks related to weather conditions in the critical growing months ahead.

FAO's latest forecast for world cereal production in 2012 stands at a record level of 2.4 billion tonnes, 3.2 per cent higher than 2011 record.

A higher percentage of the increase, NaijaAgroNet gathered is expected to originate mainly from maize in the United States amid an early start of the planting season and prevailing favourable growing conditions.

However, with planting still to be completed and much of the crop at very early stages of development, the final outcome will depend greatly on weather conditions in the coming months.

The forecast of global rice production in 2012 is firmer and points to a 2.2 percent increase from 2011, to some 490 million tonnes, mostly reflecting larger plantings in Asia.

For wheat, latest indications point to a contraction of about 3 per cent in production in 2012, to 680 million tonnes, still well above the average of the past five years.

The global cereal utilization is predicted to expand by at least two per cent in 2012-2013 season; to 2 376 million tonnes, with feed utilization growing by 3.8 per cent, while food consumption is expected to increase by just over 1 per cent, thereby largely keeping pace with world population growth.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

N1.59trn on wheat imports, unacceptable – Jonathan

Nigeria women processing cassava

Nigeria President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has expressed federal government’s unacceptability over the importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish only which amounts to over $10 billion, about N1.59 trillion.

He also said the federal government is facilitating the importation and installation of 100 new large scale integrated rice mills in Nigeria to enable the nation with a capacity to mill all locally consumed rice.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the federal government would not only sustain farming in the nation as the largest producer of cassava in the world but also to ensure that Nigeria is the largest processor of high value cassava products globally.

To achieve this, President Jonathan said tariff and levy on the importation of wheat has been increased and proceeds from the levy will be used to support corporate bakers and master bakers across the country to use high quality cassava flour for baking.

The funds generated from the wheat levy, NaijaAgroNet learnt would be set aside to also support the promotion of high quality cassava flour and composite cassava bread in form of technical training, equipment for corporate baker as well as enzymes needed for production.

“Nigeria will export this year 1 million metric tonnes of dried cassava chips to China,” this he said would earn the nation $136 million, about N21.7 billion in foreign exchange.

The federal government is also reviving cocoa’s lost glory with massive distribution of about 3.6 million free pods of high-yielding cocoa varieties for farmers. Free cotton seeds will also be distributed to cotton farmers in the north.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology