UN Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts increase in world production of cereals in 2021

Chisinau, 12 April /MOLDPRES/ - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in a recent report, estimates that the world production of cereals is expected to increase in 20121 for the third year in a row, due to friendly conditions in some countries,’’;  FAO changed, respectively, its estimations as to the overall wheat production.   

According to FAO, the world wheat production is scheduled to reach a new record this year – 785 million tons, up by 1.4 per cent against the 2020 year, promoted by an accelerated recovery in most regions of Europe and against the background of the estimation of a record harvest in India. A volume of harvest above the average amount is scheduled for maize as well, namely a record harvest in Brazil and a multiannual growth in South Africa, reads the FAO Summary on the demand and supply of cereals, published on 8 April.     

„In the 2020-2021 agricultural season, the overall consumption of cereals is planned to reach 2,777 million tons and will record a 2.4-per cent increase against the year before. This fact will be triggered, to a great extent, by the growth of the consumption of wheat and barley for the feeding of animals in China, where the zoo-technical sector recovers, after being hit by the African swine fever,’’ the document reads.

At the same time, it is estimate that, in late 2021, the world stocks of cereals will decrease by 1.7 per cent against their level in the beginning of the season, standing at 808 million tons. Given that the forecasts show an increase in the consumption level, the ratio between the stocks of cereals and their consumption will diminish by 28.4 per cent, reaching the lowest level in the last seven years in the 2020-2021 season.

Also, FAO raised the forecast for the world trade with cereals at 466 million tons in 2020-2021, increasing by 5.8 per cent against the year before. The growth would be boosted by the commerce with fodder cereals, due to procurements of maize in unprecedented quantities by China. Also, the international trade with rice is scheduled to increase by six per cent against the last year, reads a communiqué of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

photo: foodsafety.merieuxnutrisciences.com