In a new forecast, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation reveals that world cereal production will be reduced by 2.6 per cent by the end of 2012 following last years record crop
Wheat production is expected to fall 5.2 per cent – largely because of the heatwave in the United States, and other grains by 2.3 per cent. The global rice crop is expected to remain mostly unchanged, with falls in India offset by an increase in China, Japan and the Philippines.
"The decrease will result in a significant reduction in world inventories by the close of seasons in 2013, even with world demand sliding as a result of high prices," FAO said in a statement.
Record heat in June and July and the worst drought since 1956 has reduced US wheat, maize and soy harvests by more than 10 per cent. Because the US is by far the world's biggest grower and exporter of grains, this is expected to have repercussions around the world. Farmers are still harvesting their crops but the maize harvest is expected to be the lowest in nine years. Nearly 40 per cent of all US maize is now used in biofuels, further restricting exports and raising prices.
The European Union is the world's third-largest grain grower but harvests this year are expected to be 5-10 per cent less than last year due to summer heat and drought damage. France and Germany, Europe's top growers, have had a good year but not enough to offset declines in Britain, Spain and Italy. The wheat harvest is expected to be the lowest in five years.
Delayed and then erratic monsoon rains have hit Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi rice production. The UN expects India, the world's largest rice producer, to grow 6 per cent less this year after record harvests last year.
Low-income countries, mainly in Africa, increased cereal production significantly in 2012, and the UN says these nations will need 5 per cent less food imports. But the total import bill is expected to rise because of higher world prices. Afghanistan has seen a bumper grain harvest, but southern Africa has been hit by bad weather. Morocco, North Korea and Haiti all expect much lower harvests.
Rice and cereal harvests in the far east (China, Japan, the Philippines) are expected to break all records, says the UN. But delayed monsoon and erratic weather conditions may dampen the final outcome.
