FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - SUDAN* (18 September)
Prospects for 2000 crops, to be harvested from October, are mixed. Abundant rains in August in most parts of southern Sudan offset low and erratic rains earlier in the season but were too late to revive short-maturing sorghum that was adversely affected by a break in rains in June/July. Western Equatoria, Lakes and Jonglei Regions are anticipated to have good crops while in Upper Nile Region, insecurity and lack of adequate inputs are expected to adversely affect production. In northern Sudan, despite good rains in the second half of August, main crop producing regions, including Gedaref and Sennar, are deficient in moisture. The success of the season will depend on continued rains through September.
Food shortages are reported in a number of locations in southern parts of the country. Recent escalation of civil conflict, particularly in Upper Nile and Bahr-El-Ghazal regions, disrupted agricultural production and resulted in loss of assets and access to markets, leaving thousands of people in urgent need of assistance. However, relative peace in most other locations has helped nutritional improvements and led to a decline in admissions to feeding centres. During August, WFP distributed 2 400 tonnes of food, about 32 percent of planned levels for Upper Nile and Jonglei Regions due to insecurity.
A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission will visit southern Sudan in October and northern Sudan later in November/December to assess this year's crop harvest and food supply prospects for the 2000/01 marketing year.
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