The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project a strong growth of cereals such as global wheat, coarse grains and rice production in 2013.

Assuming more normal weather conditions than in 2012, global wheat production in 2013 is expected to reach 695 million tonnes, 5.4 percent up from last year's harvest and just some 6 million tonnes short of the 2011 record level.

According to early forecasts published in the May issue of FAO's monthly Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, which was made available to the Ghana News Agency of Friday, in 2013, coarse grains production is expected to set a new record at 1,266 million tonnes - 9.3 percent up on the previous high of 1,167 million tonnes registered in 2011.

It said of this total, maize is forecast to account for about 960 million tonnes, some 10 percent up from 2012.

“The bulk of the increase is expected in the United States, the world's largest producer, where maize plantings are forecast to reach their highest level since 1936.

“Recovery from drought in the major CIS producing countries should also contribute significantly to the record global production,” it said.

Still tentatively, FAO foresees rice production in the forthcoming 2013 season to rise to 497.7 million tonnes, 16 million tonnes more than in 2012, with particularly large increases expected in India and Indonesia.

It said despite the expected production increases, world cereal utilization is expected to stagnate in 2012/2013, constrained by rising grain prices and faltering ethanol demand.

“Global cereal utilization is now forecast to be 2,332 million tonnes, roughly unchanged from the 2011/12 level.

“World cereal stocks by the close of seasons ending in 2013 are forecast at 505 million tonnes, up 1 per cent (5 million tonnes) from the previous forecast, but some 3 per cent (16 million tonnes) below their opening levels,” it stated.