SRI LANKA* (12 October)
The output of main 2005 Maha rice crop is officially estimated at 2.01 million tonnes, 330 000 above last year’s drought-affected production. Harvesting of the Yala crop is underway and the output is expected to be higher compared to last year. Wheat imports are forecast at 1 million tonnes for 2006. In addition, the country imports some 130 000 tonnes of maize to meet domestic feed and food consumption requirement each year.
WFP is currently purchasing 13 000 tonnes of rice from local cooperatives through the Sri Lanka Ministry of Agriculture for its tsunami programmes and a further 5 000 tonnes for its longer-term recovery programme (PRRO).
In September, WFP provided enough relief food to feed 750 000 people through its General Food Distribution to the areas affected by tsunami. As from October, WFP will target its assistance to 350 000 people under its vulnerable Group Feeding intervention. In addition, WFP is providing assistance to around 855 000 people in tsunami affected and conflict affected food insecure areas through School Feeding, MCN and FFW activities.
FAO, as the UN’s coordinating agency for the rehabilitation of the fisheries and agriculture sectors in Sri Lanka, continues to distribute fishing nets and engines to tsunami-affected fishers and to provide seeds and fertilizers to crop sector.