FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/00 - GEORGIA* (6 November)
Georgia faces a severe food crisis. Agricultural production in 2000 has fallen sharply because of the serious drought, which has affected both rain-fed 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. By late October, some 115 000 tonnes of small grains had been harvested from 128 000 hectares, with yields of 0.9 tonnes a hectare compared to 2.3 t/ha last year. Grain production including maize in 2000 is provisionally estimated at 348 000 tonnes, including 93 000 (1999: 226 000) tonnes of wheat and 250 000 tonnes of coarse grains. At the forecast level, aggregate cereal output in 2000 would be only 44 percent of the estimated 1999 total cereal production and 52 percent of the average of the last five years.
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 non-irrigated areas. 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.
With a minimum national cereal consumption requirement (including food, feed seed, losses) estimated at 1.09 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 76 000 tonnes. This leaves an uncovered deficit of 235 000 tonnes (124 000 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.
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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