FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - GEORGIA* (18 September)
The Joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission which visited Georgia in August, found that Georgia faces a severe food crisis. Agricultural production in 2000 has catastrophically dropped as a result of the serious drought, which has affected both rainfed and irrigated areas. Six regions, namely Kakheti, Mtskheta Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe Javakheti and Imereti, have been the most affected. Cereal crops have largely been lost in the eastern part of Georgia. Although production improved moving further west and north, yield reductions were still assessed at 50 percent or more in these areas, whilst the quality of the grains produced was also very poor. In the irrigated areas, irrigation was generally inadequate, reducing yields by up to one half. The drought has affected all crops, not just cereals. The yield of potatoes, an important staple in the upland areas, is also poor particularly in the nonirrigated areas. Colorado Beetle further damaged the potato crop in the south and southwest. Sunflower output has been hard hit, as have the fruit, vegetables and grape harvests. Pasture and fodder crop production is affected, and will necessitate a reduction in animal numbers particularly in the east.
The Mission provisionally estimates total cereal production in 2000 at 326 000 tonnes, including 83 000 (1999: 226 000) tonnes of wheat. Output of maize and barley is tentatively estimated at about 225 000 tonnes and 15 000 tonnes respectively, pending completion of the harvest. At the forecast level, aggregate cereal output in 2000 would be only 42 percent of the estimated 1999 total cereal production and 49 percent of the average of the last five years.
With a minimum national cereal consumption requirement (including food, feed seed, losses) estimated at 1.07 million tonnes, Georgia's cereal import requirement in 2000/01 is estimated at 748 000 tonnes (620 000 tonnes of wheat, 88 000 tonnes of maize, 35 000 tonnes of barley and 5 000 tonnes of rice). Commercial imports are difficult to estimate precisely in view of informal imports and the volume of transit trade, but are estimated at 437 000 tonnes, while pledged food aid amounts to 88 000 tonnes. This leaves an uncovered deficit of 223 000 tonnes (112 000 tonnes of wheat; 80 000 tonnes of maize; 30 000 tonnes of barley; 1 000 tonnes of rice) which will need to be covered by additional food aid.
The Mission also established that cereal seed production had all but been lost, there being an estimated 4 000 tonnes of a required 30 000 tonnes in the country. Provision of winter wheat seeds to farmers will be paramount if production is to recover and food aid needs to diminish next year.
Emergency food aid is required for an estimated 696 000 worst affected drought victims and WFP is appealing for almost 66 000 tonnes for a period of 8 months (November to June), until the next main harvest.
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