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Cereal Deficits in Bahr El Ghazal

Another worrying factor is that, although the harvest was good in many regions, the FAO predicted that five states (Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Lakes (Buheirat), Warab, Jonglei and Bahr el Jebel) will be in cereal deficit and food aid will be required throughout 1999, especially in Bahr El Ghazal region, as normal trade routes and infrastructure have broken down. The surplus production in the traditional agricultural sectors in Upper Nile and Western Equatoria would probably not be accessible through market forces, Adue to the segmentation of the population.@ It predicted that the surplus produced by mechanized farms in Upper Nile state would likely be marketed in northern and central parts, with little traded southwards.@48 Indeed, it appeared that producers of sorghum (the principal staple) were going to export 200,000 tons of sorghum to Eritrean, Middle Eastern, and European markets.49

48 FAO, Crop and Food Supply Assessment, Southern Sudan, November 16, 1998.

49 "Sudan signs deals to export 200,000 T of sorghum,@ Reuters, Khartoum, December 8, 1998.

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