FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - AZERBAIJAN (11 September)

The outlook for the 2000 foodcrops harvest has also been affected by the heatwave and drought this summer. Official indications are that spring crops, notably cotton, vegetables, fruit and potato, particularly in mountainous areas, have been affected. The extent to which the drought has affected the yield of winter wheat, harvested as of July, is uncertain. Below normal precipitation coupled with high evaporation also reduced the water levels in the Kura and Araz rivers used for irrigation. At the aggregate level, the output of crops is expected to be reduced by 15 - 25 percent. The drought has also affected animal pastures and fodder for the winter.

As the outlook for potato production is unfavourable, the cereal import requirement in 2000/01 is likely to rise to beyond the 600 000 tonnes envisaged earlier. If FAO's projection of 2000 grain production (1 million tonnes) materializes, imports of cereals in the 2000/01 marketing year are tentatively estimated at about 800 000 tonnes compared to 772 000 in 1999/2000. The bulk of this will be covered commercially, though vulnerable groups, including the internally displaced, still need targeted food assistance. WFP continues to support 485 000 beneficiaries through a 3year Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation which started in July 1999. Total food commodities committed for the life of the project amount to 47 880 tonnes of food aid. The current programme supports IDPs with supplementary assistance, relief support to socially vulnerable groups, resettlement of refugees/returnees and recovery through foodforwork and food-for- training.

Back to menu