FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - GEORGIA* (10 September)
Cereal production has significantly recovered from the severely drought affected crop in 2000, owing mainly to favourable weather conditions and the availability of farm inputs, the latter predominantly through international assistance. FAO tentatively estimates grain output at 613 000 tonnes (2000: 391 000 tonnes), including 200 000 tonnes of wheat, 350 000 tonnes of maize and 50 000 tonnes of barley. However, drought in the west this summer has resulted in partial or complete loss of maize and vegetables in some areas.
Given the national cereal consumption requirement of nearly 1.2 million tonnes in 2001/02 marketing year, import requirements, mostly wheat, are estimated at about 510 000 tonnes, including 81 000 tonnes of food aid. Cereal imports in 200/01 were 657 000 tonnes.
Following an appeal for 66 000 tonnes in food aid to assist 696 000 drought-affected and vulnerable people, 42 500 tonnes of food have been pledged and 68 percent have already arrived in the country, with the rest (13 482 tonnes) will be arriving in mid-October. The EMOP is almost 65 percent funded. Since February 2001, WFP has distributed 25 500 tonnes of wheat flour, vegetable oil and beans to 540 300 beneficiaries in 6 drought affected regions of West and East Georgia. Currently, the third and final round of food distribution is being finalized in two regions. WFP plans to continue food assistance in one region of West Georgia where subsistence farmers are facing a second year of drought. At the same time WFP continues to implement PRRO 6122.01. Under the recovery component of the operation, FFW projects have began in two regions of West Georgia with planned rehabilitation activities of cash-crop plantations, drainage and irrigation systems and public infrastructure.