Rome: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has released its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, projecting that world cereal production will reach an all-time high in the 2023–24 season.
According to FAO’s report, global cereal production is expected to reach 2,819 million tonnes, indicating a 1.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. The upward revision in the forecast is primarily driven by improved prospects for global wheat production, which is now estimated at 783.3 million tonnes. Countries like Canada, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye have contributed to this positive outlook. However, despite the overall increase, global wheat production is anticipated to fall by 2.3 percent compared to the previous season.
Furthermore, the report highlights that global coarse grain output is forecast to grow by 2.9 percent to 1,512 million tonnes in 2023, compared to 2022. Additionally, world rice production for the 2023–24 season is expected to rise by 1.2 percent to 523.7 million tonnes, recovering from a reduced level in the previous year.
While the projected record-high cereal production is positive news for global food supplies, several challenges remain. High food prices, economic downturns, conflicts, droughts, and the potential risk of El Nino weather patterns in certain regions are exacerbating food security concerns in many parts of the world. The latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report identifies 45 countries that require external assistance for food.
World cereal production is forecast to expand by 1.1 percent in 2023 from the year before, but it is predicted to contract in the group of 44 Low-Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), pushing up import needs, the report said.
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