KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF* (6 June)
Transplanting of rice, the most important current farming activity in the country, is in full swing. Farmers, government officials, workers, and soldiers have been participating in rice transplanting. As of the end of May, over 65 percent of rice transplanting had been completed in North and South Hwanghae and South Phyongan Provinces, the major rice producing areas. Despite sharp temperature differences between daytime and nighttime and continuing gales, seeds were sown on time and seedlings are healthy. The Government has concentrated all efforts on boosting agricultural production this year. Rural communities across the country have made material and technical preparations for farming such as securing high-yielding seeds, making various kinds of big and small farm implements, preparing farm machinery and fertilizing fields. The government budget for agriculture this year has reportedly been raised by 29 percent.
The country harvested a good crop last year and paddy production in 2004 is estimated at 2.37 million tonnes, 5.6 percent up on the previous year, as a result of favourable weather, improved irrigation facilities in the main Cereal Bowl region and increased application of fertilizer provided through international assistance. However, domestic supply is still expected to fall well below the minimum food needs and the country will again have to depend on external assistance as its capacity to import commercially remains highly constrained. Due to lack of large donations since October, WFP has been forced to halt food assistance to large numbers of the beneficiaries. Unless new donations are received, 3.6 million elderly people, Food for Work participants, primary school children and the poorest urban households will not be receiving assistance from WFP.