FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 06/99 - TAJIKISTAN* (27 May)
The latest indications are that the 1999 grain and pulse harvest could be sharply lower than last year's officially estimated 500 000 tonnes. Preliminary official estimates indicate that the area sown to grains in 1999 fell by up to 90 000 hectares due to shortages of inputs (mainly seeds) and salinization. Up to 80 000 hectares of land has not been planted and about 10 000 hectares of irrigated land have been diverted back to cotton. In addition, a short, mild winter and wet spring favoured development of rust and smut and yields could be lower than last year's. At this early stage the 1999 cereal and pulse harvest is tentatively forecast to fall by 14 percent to 430 000 tonnes. In December 1998 a law was passed allocating another 28 000 hectares of land for private use. This was too late to effectively plant winter grains.
The shortfall in production will have to be met by food aid and commercial imports, mainly from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
An appeal was launched in December 1998 for US$24.8 million, to meet the humanitarian and rehabilitation needs of over half a million vulnerable people in 1999. The appeal includes projects to enhance basic food production and food security as well as food for the populations at risk.
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