Cereal production down 9.3%
Cereal production in Ireland has decreased by 9.3%, or 201,000 tonnes, on 2001-2002 levels.
This figure was reported today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) which says that an increase in wheat production of 12.7% and in oat production of 12.6% were not enough to offset a large decrease in the production of barley, which was 24.6% (314,000 tonnes) less than 2001-2002 levels.
As a result, Irish self-sufficiency in cereals has dropped to 76% in 2002-2003 from 88% in 2001-2002.
Comparing these two periods, total cereal imports have increased by 38.4% (246,000) tonnes, with all three cereals increasing, especially wheat, registering at 33.9% (195,000 tonnes).
The country's total cereal exports were down 31.9% (129,000 tonnes). Barley exports dropped 58.6% (126,000 tonnes), accounting for most of the total cereal export decline.
EU figures for 2001-2002 show that usable production of cereals was more than enough to meet domestic uses, with self-sufficiency at 105%.
