KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF* (22 October)
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited the country from 28 September to 9 October 2004 and is currently finalizing its report. The general findings of the mission point to a slight improvement in the total cereal production (including potatoes in cereal equivalent) over last year’s revised harvest. Generally favourable weather, relatively pest- and disease-free cropping season, application of fertilizer (although slightly reduced from last year) provided through international assistance, improved irrigation facilities in the main Cereal Bowl region of the country due to completion of the Kechan-Taesong Lake canal funded by the OPEC, were responsible for this year’s relatively good harvest.
Despite the recovery, domestic production is expected to fall well below the minimum food needs and the country will again have to depend on external assistance as its capacity to import commercially remains highly constrained. Vulnerability analysis by the mission indicates that the ability of low-income families to obtain food from the market, over and above their low rations from the Public Distribution System, is severely restricted due to their deteriorating purchasing power affected by under- or unemployment and sharp rises in food prices in the market. Consequently, a larger number of people are expected to require more food assistance during 2004/05 as compared to the previous year.