Favorable Outlook for World Cereal Production in 2007

This year harbors in bright prospects for the world cereal crop production, according to the recent report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This is mainly due to expanded plantings in Europe and North America. Production among low-income food-deficit countries also increased significantly in 2006, with record or good crops in most regions of the world. Food security problems persist in several countries, however, due to localized losses of 2006 crops and civil conflict.

African countries continue to experience food security problems due to natural phenomena such as floods and droughts, civil conflicts, and localized poor harvests. In Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, food supply situation remains critical as a result of the sharp reduction of food aid. Serious food security problems also persist in some parts of Asia such as Sri Lanka and Iraq due to political instability and conflict. In Haiti assistance is still required due to long-term problems of insecurity and economic crisis.

Read the news article at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000493/index.html.