At this very interesting time when the government is announcing there would be an economic growth for the fourth consecutive year, and the regional states are boasting about a bumper harvest, the United Nations food agency this week came out with an astounding fresh report that indicates Ethiopia is one of the food deficit countries this year.

The Rome-based UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said that despite projections of a bumper grain crop this year, 33 countries will not have enough food. Ethiopia is one of those in the list of the organization, with Iraq and Zimbabwe among the hardest hit.

Countries with widespread lack of access to food include Afghanistan, North Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Liberia, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger and Sierra Leone, according to the April issue of FAO "Crop Prospects and Food Situation" report.

Hardest hit, with an exceptional shortfall in food production and supplies are Iraq, Lesotho, the Philippines, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, the FAO said.

In eastern Africa, millions still depend on food assistance due to a combination of factors, including conflict and adverse weather conditions, it said.

In southern Africa, preliminary forecasts suggest a below-average maize yield similar to that of 2006, the statement said, although prospects vary from country to country.

Prospects are good overall in Latin America and the Caribbean, except for in Bolivia, where severe weather, ranging from torrential rains to drought, has caused extensive losses to agriculture, livestock and other assets.

World cereal production is forecast to increase by 4.3 percent to a record two billion tons, FAO said.

According FAO, the bulk of the increase is expected in maize, a significant rise in wheat output is also foreseen, with a recovery in some major exporting countries after weather problems last year, it said.

About half of the increase some 41 million tons will come from the production of coarse grains, mainly maize, in North and South America to meet surging demand for ethanol fuel, FAO's report added.