Demand for farm produce predicted to increase

AN increase in world demand for agricultural products from 2004 was predicted yesterday by the OECD.

But it also claimed in an Outlook Report 2003-2008, published in Paris, that progress in cutting subsidies to farmers is too slow.

It said the predicted rise in demand for agricultural products will be mainly from the more rapidly developing non-OECD countries, and will be mostly for more processed food and higher protein products such as meats.