030401

Brazil to cut wheat imports

SAO PAULO: Brazil, the world's largest wheat importer, will sharply reduce wheat imports to between 5.5 million tonnes and 6 million tonnes in 2003 from 7 million tonnes last year, Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues said on Monday.

It will follow an expected surge in wheat production to 4.5 million tonnes from 2.9 million tonnes last year.

"The aim of the government is to reduce wheat imports," Rodrigues told Reuters in an interview.

He added that the government crop research agency Embrapa said it was possible for Brazil to become self-sufficient in wheat in six years, as it has 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres) of potential wheat land in the whole country.

Brazil imports nearly all its wheat from neighboring Argentina.-Reuters