The bulk of the cereals are grown in the spring.
Winter grains account for a very small proportion of the total harvest.
The 1999 grain harvest is officially estimated at 14.2 million tonnes cleaned weight, i.e. more than double the poor 1998 harvest which was officially put at 6.4 million tonnes. The area sown to grains remained stable and the markedly better outcome is due too timely rains during the growing season and at harvesting. Between July and December 1999, in excess of 3 million tonnes of cereals, mainly wheat have been exported.