FAO’s estimate of the recently harvested wheat crop, based on the findings of an FAO Crop Assessment Mission in April 1997, remains at 650 000 tons. This is an above-average harvest second only to the record output in 1991/92 and some 23 percent higher than last year. The increase reflects generally favourable growing conditions and a larger planted area due to farmers’ response to supportive Government policy and expectations of higher prices. The area planted to wheat increased by 7 percent to 334 000 hectares. The estimate of sorghum production in 1996 is currently put at 4.2 million tons, slightly higher than previous forecasts.
The overall food situation has so far been generally satisfactory. However, the food supply situation in some provinces remains highly precarious. An aggregate deficit of around 600 000 tons of cereals is estimated for six states in Darfur and Kordofan, Red Sea State and the South. While some of the deficits may be met through normal internal trade, prospects for an easy flow of supplies are not good, especially in North Kordofan and North Darfur. In those areas where accessibility poses the greatest problem, a large number of people are bound to experience hardships. The situation is worse in the southern states where economic activity has been adversely affected by many years of civil war. In this part of the country, some 2.6 million war- affected and displaced persons need emergency food aid estimated at 52 176 tons, of which cereals would account for 39 000 tons. In May FAO and WFP jointly approved an emergency operation to provide emergency food assistance to 2.3 million war and drought affected population.