Fighting the grain drain

摘要

The latest forecast for grain production in 2000/01 suggests that this will be the fourth consecutive year that there has been a decline in output. The February forecast figure from the International Grain Council (IGC) puts 2000/01 production at 1,452m tonnes while consumption is estimated to 1,484m tonnes. In the 1999/00 season, the comparative figures were 1,469m tonnes of production while consumption was at 1,475m tonnes. The world trade in grain is estimated at 209m tonnes in 2000/01 as against 212m tonnes in 1999/00.